Unlikely Friends

Michael is a former neo-nazi whose life was defined by rejection and hate. Tiffany is an African-American probation officer assigned to his case. Today they sit down for an I Am Second conversation, side by side, to talk about the day that Tiffany came to Michael’s house, knowing who he was on paper – his record, and the symbols of hate on his walls and his skin – but open to the possibility of a life transformed, ready to work for radical change. “Can I ask you a serious question?” Michael asks. Tiffany nods. “Why did you believe in me so much? Why did you keep coming back? Why did you want to help me to change?…The things I did in my past, the people I’ve hurt…How can you love somebody like that? How can somebody respect me, accept me with the things I did? That’s why I had all that hate in me, because who would want me?” These are difficult questions, but Tiffany doesn’t hesitate. She gives her answer, calm and sure. “God,” she says.