220 Comments
User's avatar
Sherry's avatar

I’m sure that somewhere along the story line that someone will trash the school and accuse it of “grooming” them to become trans.

However, I applaud them for being able to see that love truly conquers all and a life lived embracing differences, learning respect for others and being an advocate is a far more enjoyable and rewarding as well as a much more enriching life.

Feeling love is way better than the white hot burn of irrational hatred.

Rita Hagel's avatar

This person (with all due respect, as an elderly English major, I refuse to use plural pronouns for individuals), is a dead ringer for Nancy Kulp (Ms Hathaway) on the Beverly Hillbillies.

Regret's avatar

You could just use Black's name you know, you don't have to reject Black's pronouns so performatively.

Marie's avatar

we must disagree greatly over how much respect they are due, then, as my desire to respect a person's identity far outweighs adherence to fixed and restrictive rules of grammar.

Tosca's avatar

No wonder DeSantis wanted to trash New College. It "turned" a KKK leader's child anti racist AND trans??? The horror.

I wish the wonderful couple puppies, rainbows, and smashing fascists.

Zyxomma's avatar

Ta, Dok. Good for Black!

Wookiee Monster's avatar

I take it their dad didn’t attend the wedding?

Delmarva Peninsula's avatar

Lordy I remember this kid on those shows in the late 90s. Child abuse at its worst. I'm thrilled they found a path out and a voice to help others do the same.

Randy Bender's avatar

What an inspiring, comforting story. We definitely need it these days.

More pleez.

Maybe's avatar

I'm surprised this family didn't change their name, perhaps to "100%puresuperiorWhite."

Bagels of Doom's avatar

case in point how forcing someone into an identity, any identity, doesn't work and only leads to misery.

Vagenda and Peeara's avatar

I wonder what the senior Mr. Black thinks about his child's transformation? I'm guessing Thanksgiving is either super awkward, or non-existent.

Bupkus231's avatar

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that there will plenty of asshole Floridians ready to condemn this book and its author - despite the fact that will likely never encounter either.

Vagenda and Peeara's avatar

My Fox News watching neighbor never shuts the fuck up about crime in Chicago. One day I asked him "have you ever been to Chicago"? I already knew the answer. They're all obseseed with whatever imaginary dragon Fox News tells them about.

Sherry's avatar

And all the horrible homeless drug addicts that inhabit the entirety of San Francisco is another example.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Randy Bender's avatar

But the Palestinian protests might spread to the Ivy league university in your town--OR UNDER YOUR BED!!!

Pliny the Younger's avatar

A truly amazing transformation. See, people can change, often for the better.

Sherry's avatar

And they are helping others find the light.

Porkchop's avatar

Awww. Well, good for them. It’s nice to see that you can be raised by the most heinous KKK member racists and you know…. get better. If they can do it, anyone can.

Michael Bowen's avatar

I was raised to be racist. I got better.

Major Is My Spirit Animal's avatar

Hey, we were all raised to be racists as it's baked into the culture. We usually figure it out through experience but we all carry some residue of racism and overcoming it is an ongoing struggle.

Maybe's avatar

Excellent. I am fortunate to have been raised with no racism in my home. When I went to college, it took me months to realize that my roommate was Jewish. Her last name was "Greenberg." I just never thought about it. My mother was a wonderful person.

Sherry's avatar

Racism was talked about in my family and the consensus was don’t be an asshole. Mom was and still is a proud civil rights advocate. I’m glad we learned the right way. And hey, we did it without church interference.

M-X's avatar

Like ELMER Stewart Rhodes's son, Dakota Adams, who was abused by his father, like his mom and siblings were, and escaped, literally.

Sherry's avatar

Wow. Who didn’t see that coming. Said no one ever.

Randy Bender's avatar

So Mush brain chips = good

Vaccine brain chips = BAD

Maybe's avatar

Any person who agrees to a brain chip--especially from Musky--has brain problems already.

insert_something_creative's avatar

Yeah. I would certainly never do it, but it sounds like the guy in the story didn't have much to lose and a lot to potentially gain.

Doug Langley's avatar

Noooo. Say it ain't so.

Bradthe🤖's avatar

It ends by saying the subject still likes it overall, and Neuralink plans to do 10 more people this year.

fair_n_hite_451's avatar

Brought to you buy the Department of No Fucking Kidding!

Old Man Shadow's avatar

Despite DeSantis, it's still a really neat story.

Always Be Ithacating's avatar

Is there anything salvageable about the New College that helped R. Derek Black to flourish? The site savenewcollege.org seems to have been abandoned about a year ago. Maybe an effort to reconstitute it somehow?

On June 1, the new New College will host a daylong Global Liberty Institute symposium titled “Reversing the Ideological Capture of Universities and Institutions.” Who is the Global Liberty Institute? Some of my worst nightmares.

https://global-liberty.org/who-we-are/

Craig Nixon's avatar

Welp...I kept scrolling downward, waiting to see Mike Flynn. At least I got HR McMaster, DEF not to be confused with the good H.R., the one from Bad Brains.

Always Be Ithacating's avatar

I briefly flashed on H.R. "Bob" Haldeman.

Georgiaburning's avatar

“Who is the Global Liberty Institute? “

Undoubtedly someone opposed to global liberty. Duh.

Doktor Zoom's avatar

You know that viral photo of Rep. Andy Kim cleaning up some of the mess in the House chamber after the J6 mob was rousted?

Like that. From all the alumni and former faculty, and one hopes the new Democratic administration, after DeSantis and his mob are finally removed in the next election.

Always Be Ithacating's avatar

I will keep that beautiful vision in my head until that happy day arrives!