Tom "TJ" Leyden is a nationally recognized speaker who was a Neo-Nazi white supremacist activist and recruiter for 15 years.

He spoke as part of West Virginia State University's Human Rights Conference today in Institute.

Leyden says he left the movement when he realized he wasn't ready to sacrifice his two sons for this belief system.

Leyden says racism today is also hidden behind highly intelligent people.

"You don't see the sheets as much anymore." he explains. "They've gone to more of the suit and tie look. They try to look presentable. They're trying to market themselves better. Instead of saying, "I'm a racist" they say, "I'm a separatist."

Leyden says you can't change hate because it's a human emotion, but racism is an "ism" that CAN be destroyed through learning a new belief system.