'Erasing Hate': Lawrence O'Donnell's New Documentary (VIDEO)

Lawrence O'Donnell is hosting his first-ever documentary for MSNBC on Sunday night.

The documentary, called "Erasing Hate," chronicles two years in the life of Bryon Widner, who was a violent skinhead for 16 years before he decided to turn his life around. He had one problem, though: the startling array of racist tattoos that covered his entire body. The documentary gets its title from Widner's harrowing 20-month tattoo removal process.

The documentary airs Sunday, June 26th, at 9 P.M. Below, watch a (slightly disturbing) clip from "Erasing Hate."

WATCH:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Comments

[Nessa CRonaldo7]

12:06 PM on 06/29/2011

look at where hatred leads you..better late than never i guess.

[fourthestatepost]

09:38 PM on 06/28/2011

"I know just how black people feel, because I get discriminated against because of my tatoo's all the time."

Screw this guy. He gets no sympathy from me.

[Iain Banks]

09:03 AM on 06/29/2011

Give him time, no one turns around from being a complete idiot in one day.

[LabRat]

08:20 PM on 06/28/2011

Good for him. I wish him courage in his new life.

I hope I never have to remove my tattoo. At least I can hide it with a short sleeved shirt

[PaddockGirl]

05:30 PM on 06/28/2011

The nature and placement of his tattoos indicate how much he hated and loathed himself, which he in turn projected on others. Good for him turning himself around and rejecting the racist ideologies that dominated a big portion of his life.

[Catch 22]

02:07 PM on 06/28/2011

Mr Widner is the obvious face of racism, but he is not the most dangerous one. That spot is reserved for the buttoned down types who are in positions of power, and lead outwardly normal lives. They are the David Duke wannabees. The quietly and insidiously teach their kids how to hate with a smile. I am happy that Mr Widner has seen the error of his ways. That is a good thing. But there is a long battle ahead.

[leggytingle]

05:36 PM on 06/28/2011

You forgot to mention Holder.

[Ulalume s Ague]

01:26 PM on 06/29/2011

I'll bite. Why is the Attorney General of the United States a racist and one who could be compared to David Duke?

[PrinceO]

10:18 AM on 06/28/2011

good for him

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

01:17 AM on 06/28/2011

Hey !

Good for this guy for learning what's always been in my mind, and probably many of you too.
Tattoo? Mark my skin with an attitude I have to day but might reject tomorrow? No thanks.

[Ina Dolce]

11:20 PM on 06/27/2011

His facial tattoos don't look racist but the idea that someone could be so reckless is what is doing him in. They say I didn't plan for my future. God bless him.

[ritgar]

09:05 AM on 06/29/2011

They may not look like anything to you, but like other gang signs and marks they have significant meaning to those he is associated with.

[ladydragon]

10:17 AM on 06/29/2011

Ina, go back and re-watch the special because obviously you were either not listening/paying attention, or you just don't get it. The man described each tattoo on his face, neck, and arms, and he explained exactly what significance each one of them had. I don't believe for one minute that he changed his attituede just because he had some ugly tattoos removed.

[Ina Dolce]

08:58 AM on 07/01/2011

I missed the documentary. I don't believe he changed his views either. These guys never do. These kind of men need to pump themselves up. they can't let go of their greatest and only source of self-esteem.

I was trying to make a comment that tattooing your face is never a good idea.

[leggytingle]

05:37 PM on 06/28/2011

Right. Lots of "GOPers" are covered with silly face tatoos.

Why do you constantly use ghetto-ese like haters? Sounds quite silly.

[ebroadcast]

06:28 PM on 06/28/2011

They are? Didn't realize that. My point is that an ovewhelming majority of haters out there are GOP. But you already knew that

[alahnar]

06:48 PM on 06/28/2011

Language evolves, brutha. It's not constant.

[Richard Genco]

01:18 PM on 06/27/2011

This coming from a guy who did one of the most hateful moments in TV history. So bad he was suspended.

[GalaxieGal]

04:22 PM on 06/27/2011

I must have missed this. When, and for what, was he suspended? I googled it, but didn't find anything.

[ebroadcast]

04:50 PM on 06/27/2011

He's probably taking a page from fox news - throw out complete BS and hope no one calls you out on it.

[Richard Genco]

07:08 PM on 06/27/2011

Sorry, got mixed up with Shuster, Scarborough, Keith and Ed who were all suspended at one time or another. I thought Lawrence was suspended for screaming at war hero John O'Neil.

[ScottV]

05:45 PM on 06/27/2011

What, explain?

[grapost]

09:19 AM on 06/27/2011

I watched this the other night. Very interesting viewing. It shows that love and compassion can overcome many things. While hate only destroys things. It shows that most White Power gang members are taking their own hatred of themselves and their lives, and directing it at others. They are miserable so they get enjoyment out of making other people's lives miserable. It's the classic psychosis of knocking others down to build yourself up. They are sick, sick, sick, people!

[FilmCriticOne]

02:22 PM on 06/27/2011

No, it's a classic case of a guy learning to gather approval from a different group.

I remember seeing a documentary about Nazi soldiers, long after WW2. They asked a couple of older guys why they joined the SS, a particularly violent and ruthless wing of the Nazi Army.

Guess why they joined? One guy said "The women liked the uniforms" -- in other words, STATUS.

WHen you grasp how vile men can, and often are, it's often because they think they will get attention, status, and many times, women. Maybe they are wrong -- maybe it backfires.

Those SS soldiers left the SS of course, and probably went on to other ways of getting power, prestige, and passion. They were probably nice guys, good to their chiildren, nice to animals.

All men would be tryants -- if they though it got them more power, prestige, and passion . That is why it's crucial society and cultures do not reward the wrong things.

[UnRed]

03:25 PM on 06/27/2011

So all males are wannabe Nazis? Whew. The said thing is, this person has 167 fans

[sensimilla]

04:26 PM on 06/27/2011

All men would be tryants

no, we would not. How about not generalizing to all men?

[A terrible sadness]

02:47 AM on 06/27/2011

After reading through the comments for this article, there's quite a few people that really should take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror.

Whatever lead this man to make the choices he did, continuing to hate him for them does no one any good.

[Toddynho]

07:47 PM on 06/27/2011

Some are just as vile inside, although they choose not to write in on their skin.

[tamtra65]

02:45 AM on 06/27/2011

Sometimes people do not wake up until they open up their eye and mind. I hope him all the best in the world because that how we end hate by teaching our younger people

[FilmCriticOne]

02:26 PM on 06/27/2011

No, sometimes they realize they will get more power, prestige, and passion from adopting a different song and dance. But then, that's part of humanity, part of cultures -- men do what gets them power, prestige, and passion (to use a word that wont cause the rejection of this post).

Nazi soldiers, after the war, SS soldiers, in a documentary said why they joined the SS. "Women liked the uniforms". In other words, they got rewarded by attention and status.

When you grasp that is a profoundly basic motivation, you will understand much of history too.

[IrishFast]

02:44 AM on 06/28/2011

Please tell me more about "history." Try and be as vague as you always are.

[phredralf]

01:50 AM on 06/27/2011

Good luck Byron, glad you're awake.

[1logicalthinker]

01:47 AM on 06/27/2011

Three things I have never understood:

1. Why people get tattoos on their body, but especially in the face, neck, or hands.
2. Why people start smoking cigarettes.
3. Why people circumcise their children, unless there is a medical reason for doing so.

[RJB Boston]

10:13 AM on 06/27/2011

there are more important things to understand

[1logicalthinker]

12:41 PM on 06/27/2011

RJB Boston wrote, "there are more important things to understand"

I never said there weren't, and I already understand a lot of those "more important things."

[Suresp77]

01:03 PM on 06/27/2011

agree with #2 and #3: On tattoos- its kind of like a recording of personal history. I have 3, and none on my face, neck or hands. Each is meaningful to me, not some store-bought symbol. They remind me of choices I have made and beliefs core to me. I not sure about everybody, but personally they are reminders to me to take stock of what I think in each situation and to remind me that no matter how tough things get, I have persevered and I can overcome whatever God/ Fate puts in my path. Its a mark of courage and remembrance in my case, but I believe that's what cultures that do tattoo used it for as well.

[1logicalthinker]

01:43 PM on 06/27/2011

Well, two out of three ain't bad, and you present a good case for #1. Thanks for the comment.