A former white supremacist from Ohio got a huge swastika tattoo on his chest covered up with a rose in honor of Juneteenth saying he now proudly supports the Black Lives Matter movement.<\/p>\n
Dickie Marcum, a 34-year-old steelworker from Cincinnati, cried tears of joy after inking away the vile symbol and explaining to his daughter, Daddy doesnt hate people anymore, he wrote in a now-viral Facebook post.<\/p>\n
When I came home and my wife saw the cover-up, she started crying and hugged me and kept saying that shes so proud of me, he said. Im proud of myself, but I still feel shame for ever getting it.<\/p>\n
In a lengthy confession about what led to his racist beliefs, Marcum said he first got the tattoo 13 years ago.<\/p>\n
In high school, he was bullied by some black students and later began socializing with people who used racial slurs, solidifying his ignorant world view.<\/p>\n
After a black man was convicted of kidnapping and attacking his then-girlfriend in 2007 an experience that left him blinded by hate he said he got the tattoo.<\/p>\n
When I heard what a black man had [done], I was blinded by hate and immediately shut down and all I could think about was how much I hate them, he said. Its a really stupid way to think, and I cant justify how I felt and Im not going to, I was an idiot and I held onto that tattoo for 10 years as punishment to myself.<\/p>\n
For years he was too embarrassed to go swimming for fear people would see the swastika.<\/p>\n
Because I lived almost 20 years having that mentality, I felt like I deserved the shame that I felt, he said.<\/p>\n
But working in construction alongside folks of different races helped him learn that people are more than their skin color.<\/p>\n
Marcum finally went under the needle again last week at Silkworm Tattoo in Hamilton, Ohio, which offered discounts for customers covering up intolerant images in honor of Juneteeth, a holiday celebrating the official end of slavery.<\/p>\n
My daughter doesnt really know what that [swastika] symbol is, so I explained that the tattoo meant that daddy didnt like people, and now she knows daddy doesnt hate people anymore, he said.<\/p>\n
He then showed off his new ink social media, issuing a public apology to everyone he hurt.<\/p>\n
Now, he feels a weight has been lifted and the responsibility to vocally support minorities.<\/p>\n
Im absolutely in love with this tattoo and I think a rose was a lovely choice because it represents love and growth, and I think thats a perfect representation of who I am now, he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Go here to read the rest: <\/p>\n