Former Neo-Nazi Removes Swastika Tattoos After Befriending Black Parole Officer
Image by wikimedia
By Aiden Pink September 27, 2017
A former neo-Nazi was inspired to turn his life around—even going through the painful process of covering up his swastika tattoo—after befriending his African-American parole officer.
Michael Kent of Colorado, who spent years as a member of a violent skinhead gang, told ABC News that officer Tiffany Whittier also inspired him to remove the Nazi flags from his home and replace them with smiley faces.
“When you wake up and see a smiley face, you’re going to go to work and you’re going to smile,” Kent explained.
“I’m not here to judge him. That’s not my job to judge. My job is to be that positive person in someone’s life,” Whittier said.
Redemption Ink, an organization that helps former racists remove their tattoos for free, arranged Kent’s new ink session—the first time he had gotten a tattoo by a professional. His previous markings were done in prison.
He hoped his story would inspire his children to choose a better path.
“I don’t want my kids to live the life I lived and live with hate,” he said. “I want my kids to know me for who I am now—a good father, a hard worker, and a good provider.”
Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com or on Twitter, @aidenpink
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
