Rising Out of Hatred Character Analysis

Derek Black

Derek Black is the central figure in Rising Out of Hatred. He is Don and Chloe Black’s son and David Duke’s godson. Derek grows up surrounded by white nationalists and helps his… read analysis of Derek Black

Allison Gornik

Allison is one of Derek’s peers at New College, who eventually becomes his girlfriend. Allison is Matthew’s roommate, and when Derek starts attending Matthew’s Shabbat dinners after being outed as a white nationalist… read analysis of Allison Gornik

Don Black

Don Black, Derek Black’s father and Chloe Black’s husband, is a prominent white nationalist. Don grows up in the 1960s when schools in the Southern U.S. become desegregated, creating constant turmoil between Black… read analysis of Don Black

David Duke

David Duke, a prominent white nationalist, is Derek’s godfather, Don’s best friend, Chloe’s ex-husband. Duke and Don meet as teenagers when they carpool to attend a white nationalist conference. Afterward, Duke attends… read analysis of David Duke

Rose

Rose is one of Derek’s peers at New College. She listens to Derek play music in the courtyard, and they eventually get to know each other and go dancing. They circle around the possibility… read analysis of Rose

Matthew Stevenson

Matthew Stevenson is Derek’s peer at New College and the only Orthodox Jewish student on campus. He gets to know Derek when Derek plays guitar in the courtyard, and Matthew often joins in. After… read analysis of Matthew Stevenson

Juan Elias

Juan is the first person that Derek meets at New College. Juan is part European, part indigenous, and part Black, and he moved from Peru to Miami when he was 10 years old. He meets… read analysis of Juan Elias

Barack Obama

Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States. His election in 2008 is a turning point for white nationalists, as they leverage his election to incite anger among white people who feel like… read analysis of Barack Obama

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the 45th president of the United States. A businessman and media personality, Trump rises to fame in politics by repeating the white nationalist lie that Barack Obama isn’t American. He amasses a… read analysis of Donald Trump

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate for president in the 2012 election, running against Barack Obama. Romney advocates for a policy of “self-deportation,” making life so miserable for immigrants that they decide to leave… read analysis of Mitt Romney

Moshe Ash

Moshe is a student at New College. He and Matthew are two of the few Jewish students on campus, and each Friday night they host Shabbat dinner. Moshe grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household… read analysis of Moshe Ash

James Birmingham

James Birmingham is a New College alumnus who works in the student affairs office. He is half Chinese and a staunch advocate for students of color. When Derek is outed as a white nationalist, James… read analysis of James Birmingham

Richard B. Spencer

Richard B. Spencer is a prominent white nationalist and one of the leaders of the alt-right movement. At the time of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Spencer is 38. After Derek denounces white nationalism, many… read analysis of Richard B. Spencer

Joseph Paul Franklin

Joseph Paul Franklin is a white nationalist who meets Don Black and David Duke when he is young. Together, they define the white supremacy movement for decades. When they meet, Franklin is a high school… read analysis of Joseph Paul Franklin

Chloe Black

Chloe is Derek’s mother, Don’s wife, and David Duke’s ex-wife. She and Duke have two daughters together, and so they all operate as a blended family, with Don caring for Duke’s daughters… read analysis of Chloe Black

Blair Sapp

Blair is a student at New College. After Derek is outed as a white nationalist, Blair doesn’t speak to Derek until he sees Derek almost get beaten up at a party. Blair is the first… read analysis of Blair Sapp

Minor Characters

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Clinton warns about how Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has built a campaign on paranoia and prejudice, allowing white nationalists to enter and influence the Republican establishment. She ultimately loses the 2016 election to Donald Trump.

Mike Long

Mike Long is the student body president at New College. He continues to socialize with Derek after Derek is outed as a white nationalist.

Julie

Allison Gornik's mother.