Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love

How a Violent Klansman Became a Champion of Racial Reconciliation

By: Thomas A. Tarrants

Narrated by: Ben Holland

"Riveting, inspiring, at times hard to believe but utterly true...it gives some measure of hope in these rancorous times." (John Grisham)

How a bomb-making white supremacist, once called "the most dangerous man in Mississippi," met Jesus in prison and emerged a committed advocate for Christian discipleship, peace, and racial justice.

As an ordinary high school student in the 1960s, Tom Tarrants became deeply unsettled by the social upheaval of the era. In response, he turned for answers to extremist ideology and was soon utterly radicalized. Before long, he became involved in the reign of terror spread by Mississippi's dreaded White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, described by the FBI as the most violent right wing terrorist organization in America.

In 1969, while attempting to bomb the home of a Jewish leader in Meridian, Mississippi, Tom was ambushed by law enforcement and shot multiple times during a high-speed chase. Nearly dead from his wounds, he was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman Farm. Unrepentant, Tom and two other inmates made a daring escape from Parchman yet were tracked down by an FBI SWAT team and apprehended in hail of bullets that killed one of the convicts. Tom spent the next three years alone in a six-foot-by-nine-foot cell. There he began a search for truth that led him to the Bible and a reading of the gospels, resulting in his conversion to Jesus Christ and liberation from the grip of racial hatred and violence.

Astounded by the change in Tom, many of the very people who worked to put him behind bars began advocating for his release. After serving eight years of a 35-year sentence, Tom left prison. He attended college, moved to Washington, DC, and became copastor of a racially mixed church. He went on to earn a doctorate and became the president of the C. S. Lewis Institute, where he devoted himself to helping others become wholehearted followers of Jesus.

A dramatic story of radical transformation, Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love demonstrates that hope is not lost even in the most tumultuous of times, even those similar to our own.

©2019 Thomas A. Tarrants (P)2019 Thomas Nelson

Critic reviews

"As a kid in Mississippi in the late 1960's, I remember the men of our church discussing the Klan's bombing campaign against the Jews. The men did not disapprove. Later, I would use this fascinating chapter of civil rights history as the backdrop for my novel The Chamber. Now, one of the bombers, Thomas Tarrants, tells the real story in this remarkable memoir. It is riveting, inspiring, at times hard to believe but utterly true, and it gives some measure of hope in these rancorous times." (John Grisham)

"Dramatic...[s]imply astonishing...[e]ssential reading for these times. If you want to understand how the evil of extremist thought works - and how the gospel of God’s grace can overcome it - read this book." (Mark Batterson, New York Times best-selling author of The Circle Maker, lead pastor of National Community Church)

"Amazing...[g]ives hope for what God can do." (Dr. John Perkins, president emeritus, John Perkins Foundation; co-founder emeritus, Christian Community Development Association)

"This gripping and inspiring story is as timely as today’s headlines.... Put on your seatbelt and prepare to enter into one of the most extraordinary true stories you’ll ever encounter!" (Lee Strobel, best-selling author of The Case for Christ and The Case for Grace)

Such a good book for our current times

This story of God’s redemptive power is amazing and hope filled. The journey of Mr Tarrants is a testimony to God’s amazing work.

love the redemption portion

I loved the honesty and detail. God is so good. I long for a that my desert experience is over and my heart is truly changed. There is hope!

Deserves 6 stars

This is certainly a book for our hate filled times. The author describes how he descended into hate, racism and antisemitism and then was rescued by Christian faith. Even if you are not interested in the religious part the social part is gripping.

Wow!

Amazing story, very gripping, very inspiring. Couldnt put it down. Finished it in 2 sittings. Highly recommend.

Excellent!!!

Powerful story of God's mercy and grace, drew me in immediately and held my attention. I found the narrator very easy to listen to.

A 50-year-old story relevant today

Thomas A. Tarrants was a high school student in Mobile, Alabama and part of an active church-going family. However, his relationship with his father was not very close and he began to be influenced by other adults who believed that the unrest of the 1960s was an indication of an impending fall of America and that it was due to the influence of communists, Jews, and the non-white races. He became involved with the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and took on ever more extremist ideologies. In 1968 he was part of the bombing of a Jewish Congregation and shortly after that was ambushed by police as he attempted to place a bomb on the porch of a Jewish civil rights leader in Meridian, Mississippi. His partner was killed instantly and he was wounded seriously, but survived. Sentenced to 30 years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary, he escaped but was tracked down by the FBI. Again, his escape partner was killed, but he was spared and sent back to prison, this time placed in solitary confinement for three years. 

During this time he began reading more white supremacist materials and Hitler’s Mein Kampf, but he was also now in an environment where he was forced to mix with blacks and began to realize that the stereotypes that he had assumed were not valid. He also began to read Plato and Aristotle and finally the Bible. The more he read, the more he realized that the “Christianity” that he thought he knew was not the Christianity of Jesus or the Bible. As he says, he began to realize that all of his beliefs had been the beliefs of others, and not gained by a true consideration of the issues and the realities of life. He began to study theology and the change in him was evident to the guards and to others. 

Reading the details of his story was moving. His family had not known of his extremist involvement and were hurt and shocked by his arrest but stood with him. He mentions repeatedly how his mother had prayed for him consistently and how he should have died several times. 

Through extraordinary efforts of the same people who had worked hard to put him in prison, he was granted work release and eventually early release after serving only 8 years. He finished university and studied theology. He became pastor of a racially diverse church in Washington D.C. and eventually became President of the C.S. Lewis Institute and has written several books. 

The last part of the book is an appeal for a return to true Christianity. He is concerned about the growing anger of many young men today and the tendency toward white-supremacy, political polarization, conspiracy theories, and more and what brings these all together is fear. The only remedy is hope, the hope of the gospel. 

It is refreshing to read a real story of a truly life-changing conversion and the resulting radical change that it produces. It was published a bit over a year ago and I highly recommend it to any Christian as well as non-Christians. 

An unexpected transformation

Excellent story highlighting God’s grace in the life of a young man who seemed to be a very unlikely candidate for salvation. Powerful encouragement to reconcile human divisions!

amazing testimony

An amazing testimony of God's grace in the life of someone who most would have written off as a hopeless radical. As always, there is hope in Christ.

Learning tool

The life of this man was amazing., it truly is a made for movie kind of story. The conclusion was just as thoughtful and teachable as the main theme. A small group of people could use this book for discussion on the issue within society today. I loved how scripture was added so you could reflect on that particular situation.

A Must-read!

Wow!! Although the beginning was rather slow and unemotional, the end more than made up for it! I will listen to this book repeatedly. The last hour has especially applicable lessons for the obstacles we are facing in the summer of 2020. I loved this book so much that I ordered the hard copy.