Episode 25: The Day I Interviewed a Former Grand Wizard of the KKK — I’ve Cried, A Lot.

February 27, 2025

By: Tapeka Fennell-Francis

Three years ago, I stepped into a small church in North Alabama and left a piece of myself behind. I sat across from a man who had once been the Grand Wizard of the KKK. For six hours, we exchanged words — sometimes sharp, sometimes measured — both of us pushing and pulling at the weight of history, prejudice, and change.

He walked in slowly, slightly hunched over, arms outstretched for a hug. I froze. Every instinct screamed at me to back away. Instead, I stood my ground. I listened. I asked hard questions. I pushed back. And in the end, I forgave.

Forgiveness. A word so simple, yet so heavy. I wonder if he truly understood that I meant it.

He told me things — many things. Some I will carry forever. Secrets of his past, fears of the what-ifs. He was not the man I expected, but he was still a man shaped by choices, history, and consequences. He shared why they descended on my town, the role he once played, and the regrets that lingered in his voice.

I have been working on writing this book since the day I walked out of that church, but my emotions have often gotten the best of me. Sometimes, I feel numb. Last night, I cried — a lot. I had been thinking about him, and when I reached out to the director of the documentary about our time together, I received the news. He’s gone.

But a piece of who he became in his final years stays with me.

To Shawn, the producer of the documentary — thank you. We had a few words before I arrived that day, but I learned so much from you. And to Dee, who kept me strong in that church, I got through it because of you.

Some stories change you forever. This was mine. And one day, I will finish writing it.

#Forgiveness #UnfinishedStories #Reflections