Above photo: Angela King, former neo-nazi, speaks out against hate. Michael McDade | The Crow’s Nest
By Michael McDade
Former skinhead turned peace activist Angela King spoke at The Edge about her experience as a neo-Nazi and how she finally found love amid a life full of hate.
King spoke about her childhood and being raised racist and homophobic. At a young age, her mom told her that she was never allowed to bring home a black man or another woman.
In middle school, King realized she was gay.
She then became a bully, and from there, she was desperate for attention.
That attention came from of a group of skinheads. She explained that she stuck with them because they never asked questions and they accepted her for who she was.
Because of the skinheads’ negative influence, King found herself in prison for three years in her late teens. She had been there earlier in life, but this time was different. One day she was asked if she wanted to play cribbage with a Cajun woman at the prison. This woman was part of a group of Cajun women who King under their wing.
King explained that the women didn’t let her get away with any nonsense. She believes that they’re the reason she was able to stay on good behavior.
King then graduated from college after her release.
Her newfound perspective has led to co-founding “Life After Hate,” which does outreach, education, and intervention. The organization was inspired after King attended a conference in Dublin for former anti-semite group members.
King ended with a positively strong opinion and a powerful phrase.
“I believe it takes a lot more adversity to be kind everyday,” she said. “Be willing to have the tough conversation. Don’t just write people off.”
