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Racist SKINHEADs
Skinheads, named after their cropped or shaven heads, are members of a working class subculture that originated in
Britain in the 1960s, where they were heavily influenced by the rude boys of the West Indies and the mods of the UK.

In subsequent decades, the skinhead subculture spread to other parts of Europe, North America and other continents.
Politically, skinheads range from far-right and racist to far-left and anti-fascist; and everything in between (including
apolitical). Fashion-wise, they range from a more cleancut mod-influenced 1960s style to less-strict punk- and hardcore-
influenced styles.

In the late 1960s, some skinheads (including black skinheads) had engaged in Paki bashing (random violence against
Pakistanis and other South Asian immigrants). However, there had also been anti-racist and leftist skinheads from the
beginning, especially in areas such as Scotland and Northern England. In the 1970s, the racist violence became more
politicized, with the involvement of far right organizations like the National Front and British Movement, which included
many skinheads among their ranks. Those organizations' positions against blacks and Asians appealed to many working
class skinheads who blamed immigrants for economic and social problems. This led to the public's misconception that
skinheads are neo-Nazis.  For some, the racist and chauvinistic attitudes held by these gangs developed into a crude form
of Nazism with a penchant for violence, exemplified by frequent, racially motivated attacks on Asian immigrants ("Paki-
bashing") and homosexuals ("fag-bashing").

In an attempt to counter this stereotype, some skinheads formed anti-racist organizations. Skinheads Against Racial
Prejudice (SHARP) started in the United States in 1987, and Anti-Racist Action (ARA) began in 1988 as an anti-racist
movement, not a political movement. SHARP spread to the UK and beyond, and other less-political skinheads also spoke
out against neo-Nazis and in support of traditional skinhead culture. Two examples are the Glasgow Spy Kids in Scotland
(who coined the phrase Spirit of 69), and the publishers of the Hard As Nails zine in England.

Members of skinhead groups. There are many white supremacist groups that are explicitly skinhead groups (often called
"crews"). Only one of these, the Hammerskin Nation, can truly be considered to have a national presence, and even this
group is basically divided into regional chapters, such as the Confederate Hammerskins, Western Hammerskins, etc. Most
skinhead groups are regional in nature, such as the Keystone State Skinheads, which is active primarily in eastern
Pennsylvania, or the Connecticut White Wolves. In many areas, skinhead groups may be entirely local, limited to a single
city or in some cases to a suburb or neighborhood.

Skinhead groups are notoriously short-lived. This is especially true for those that form in high schools or in local
neighborhoods, something that is common in places such as southern California. Only a very few skinhead groups, such as
the Hammerskins, have managed to survive for a significant length of time. In most communities with an active racist
skinhead presence, racist skinhead groups form, divide, and fall apart with great frequency. For example, in the past few
years, the racist skinhead scene in Phoenix, Arizona, has seen a variety of skinhead groups come and go, including the
National Skinhead Front, the Arizona Northern American Skinheads, the SS Guardians, and the Phoenix Bootboys, among
others. Individually, these groups, many of which have overlapping memberships, are not necessarily important-
collectively, they indicate that Arizona has a thriving racist skinhead scene, a fact emphasized by numerous violent criminal
incidents in recent years.

There are often significant regional variations in racist skinhead activity. In California, for example, much of the racist
skinhead scene resembles that of Phoenix, above, with a wide variety of small, rapidly forming and dissolving skinhead
groups. However, southern California in particular is home to several very large skinhead groups, such as the PEN1 (for
"Public Enemy Number One") Skins, whose membership numbers in the hundreds. Some of these groups resemble
traditional street gangs more than they do other racist skinhead groups; moreover, they often have ties to racist prison
gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood, or may have a presence in the prison system themselves. As a result, they are often
engaged in the criminal activities associated with such gangs, especially the dealing of drugs such as methamphetamine.
In some other areas of the country, there are racist skinheads with ties to outlaw motorcycle gangs. Racist skinhead groups
are susceptible to significant local variations.

Skinhead Members of Other White Supremacist Groups. Racist skinheads may be found as members in almost any white
supremacist group, but are most often found in neo-Nazi groups. Even the National Alliance, whose founder William Pierce
and successor Erich Gliebe both disparaged skinheads, has skinhead members. Some groups in particular have recruited
skinheads as members, including the Creativity Movement, White Revolution the National Socialist Movement, and
Volksfront. Volksfront straddles the line between being a neo-Nazi group and a racist skinhead group.

Skinhead activities Racist skinhead activity can occur online or in the physical world. Although racist skinheads may show
up for any type of racist or anti-Semitic event, from Holocaust denial conferences to neo-Nazi rallies, musical events are
the most popular. These range greatly in size. On one hand are large white power music festivals, planned months in
advance, with multiple bands scheduled, intended to attract hundreds of attendees. Recent examples include Aryanfest,
Nordicfest, and Hammerfest. On the other hand, there are also small events involving just one or two bands at one or
another of the few music clubs that permit white power bands.

Racist skinheads also plan a variety of other social gatherings. Many of these so-called "unity" gatherings are designed to
bring a variety of racist skinheads and other white supremacists in an area together. In Ohio, for example, unity gatherings
were held in the fall of 2003 and 2004. When weather permits, barbecues are quite popular among skinheads. Some racist
skinhead groups hold gatherings or concerts to honor Adolf Hitler's birthday on April 20.

Skinhead subculture Racist skinheads range in age from early teens to veterans in their forties. Longstanding skinhead
groups such as the Hammerskins tend to have older members. However, the skinhead subculture is a youth subculture and
the majority of racist skinheads appear to be in their late teens and early twenties. Men make up about 60-70% of racist
skinheads, but women comprise 30-40% of the movement. Women skinheads often call themselves skinbyrds, skingirls,
chelseas, or sometimes featherwoods.

Because racist skinheads are part of a greater skinhead subculture that includes non-racist and anti-racist skinheads, they
tend to share many of the same symbols and like some of the same music. However, racist skinheads tend to harbor a
considerable animosity towards anti-racist skinheads, or sharps, and computer screen names such as "sharpshooter" are
common. A number of anti-racist skinheads have been the victims of violent racist skinhead attacks. For their part,
traditional (non-racist) skinheads tend to ignore or downplay racist skinheads, while anti-racist skinheads actively oppose
them, and often seek to confront them physically at white supremacist events.

A significant part of skinhead culture is their dress and appearance. Racist skinheads typically shave their heads (much
less common among female skinheads), tattoo themselves heavily, and often wear skinhead-related garb such as
workboots and suspenders.

However, this is not always the case. Some racist skinheads and white supremacists even urge skinheads to blend in better
to avoid detection. For example, in a well-received speech before almost 150 white supremacists including Outlaw
Hammerskins, Northern Hammerskins, Hoosier-State Skins, Klansmen, and Creativity Church members at a White Unity
festival in Osceola, Indiana, in August 2003, influential white supremacist Tom Metzger presented a practical plan for
"revolutionary action." This plan called for "lone wolf" tactics, silent operations, blending with the community (regrowing
hair, covering/removing tattoos), the acquisition of professional jobs, identification of informants, and a commitment to
action. Metzger stressed the importance of maintaining a stoic attitude symbolized by the "Five Words" ("I have nothing to
say") if one is caught in illegal acts. As a result of efforts like these, not every racist skinhead fits the stereotypical profile.

Unaffiliated Racist Skinheads. By far the majority of racist skinheads in the United States do not belong to any organized
group at all. They may show up at white power music concerts, hang out with other local skinheads, involve themselves in
white supremacist gatherings and events, and participate in on-line racist skinhead Web sites and forums, but they do not
join or formally affiliate themselves with any particular group. Many unaffiliated racist skinheads are past members of
skinhead groups, or will join racist skinhead groups in the future. They are an unorganized, constantly changing mass of
haters. In most communities that have an active racist skinhead scene, unaffiliated racist skinheads will outnumber those
who are involved in organized group activity.

Racist skinhead activity can occur online or in the physical world. Although racist skinheads may show up for any type of
racist or anti-Semitic event, from Holocaust denial conferences to neo-Nazi rallies, musical events are the most popular.
These range greatly in size. On one hand are large white power music festivals, planned months in advance, with multiple
bands scheduled, intended to attract hundreds of attendees. Recent examples include Aryanfest, Nordicfest, and
Hammerfest. On the other hand, there are also small events involving just one or two bands at one or another of the few
music clubs that permit white power bands.

Racist skinheads also plan a variety of other social gatherings. Many of these so-called "unity" gatherings are designed to
bring a variety of racist skinheads and other white supremacists in an area together. In Ohio, for example, unity gatherings
were held in the fall of 2003 and 2004. When weather permits, barbecues are quite popular among skinheads. Some racist
skinhead groups hold gatherings or concerts to honor Adolf Hitler's birthday on April 20.

Racist skinheads range in age from early teens to veterans in their forties. Longstanding skinhead groups such as the
Hammerskins tend to have older members. However, the skinhead subculture is a youth subculture and the majority of
racist skinheads appear to be in their late teens and early twenties. Men make up about 60-70% of racist skinheads, but
women comprise 30-40% of the movement. Women skinheads often call themselves skinbyrds, skingirls, chelseas, or
sometimes featherwoods.

Because racist skinheads are part of a greater skinhead subculture that includes non-racist and anti-racist skinheads, they
tend to share many of the same symbols and like some of the same music. However, racist skinheads tend to harbor a
considerable animosity towards anti-racist skinheads, or sharps, and computer screen names such as "sharpshooter" are
common. A number of anti-racist skinheads have been the victims of violent racist skinhead attacks. For their part,
traditional (non-racist) skinheads tend to ignore or downplay racist skinheads, while anti-racist skinheads actively oppose
them, and often seek to confront them physically at white supremacist events.

A significant part of skinhead culture is their dress and appearance. Racist skinheads typically shave their heads (much
less common among female skinheads), tattoo themselves heavily, and often wear skinhead-related garb such as
workboots and suspenders.

However, this is not always the case. Some racist skinheads and white supremacists even urge skinheads to blend in better
to avoid detection. For example, in a well-received speech before almost 150 white supremacists including Outlaw
Hammerskins, Northern Hammerskins, Hoosier-State Skins, Klansmen, and Creativity Church members at a White Unity
festival in Osceola, Indiana, in August 2003, influential white supremacist Tom Metzger presented a practical plan for
"revolutionary action." This plan called for "lone wolf" tactics, silent operations, blending with the community (regrowing
hair, covering/removing tattoos), the acquisition of professional jobs, identification of informants, and a commitment to
action. Metzger stressed the importance of maintaining a stoic attitude symbolized by the "Five Words" ("I have nothing to
say") if one is caught in illegal acts. As a result of efforts like these, not every racist skinhead fits the stereotypical profile.


CAVEAT: NOT EVERY SKINHEAD A RACIST
The skinhead subculture was not originally racist —and, in fact, today around the world there remain many non-racist or
explicitly anti-racist skinheads (often called sharps, for “skinheads against racial prejudice”).
Political categories

There are several different political categories of skinheads. However, many skinheads don't fit into any of
these categories. The usefulness of these terms is to explain the dominant forces of skinhead political
groupings. There are no reliable statistics documenting how many skinheads have belonged to each
category.

Anti-racist

Anti-racist skinheads, sometimes known as SHARPs, are aggressively opposed to neo-Nazism and racism,
although not always political in terms of other issues. The label SHARP is sometimes used to describe all
anti-racist skinheads, even if they aren't members of a SHARP organization. Some anti-racist skinheads
have been involved with political groups such as Anti-Fascist Action or Anti-Racist Action. White power and
traditional skinheads (especially in the U.S.) sometimes refer to them as baldies.

Apolitical

Apolitical skinheads either oppose all politics in general, are politically moderate, or keep their personal
political views out of the skinhead subculture. Skinheads on either extreme of the political spectrum
sometimes refer to this type as a fencewalker.

Left wing

Left wing skinheads are anti-racist and anti-fascist, taking a militant pro-working class stance. This category
includes redskins and anarchist skinheads. The most well-known organization in this category is Red and
Anarchist Skinheads.

Right wing

Right wing skinheads are conservative and patriotic, but not necessarily extreme or fascist. This type of
skinhead seems to be common in the United States.[28]

White Power

White power or Nazi skinheads are racist, extremely nationalist and highly political. Many Nazi skinheads
have no connection to the original 1960s skinhead culture in terms of style or interests. SHARPs and
traditional skinheads often refer to them as boneheads.
Skinhead Symbols

Both racist and non-racist skinheads use specific symbols to identify themselves with their own subculture, and to help
them feel that they are part of a self-recognized community. Some of these symbols focus on the traditional "look" of
skinheads; others glorify the violent culture often associated with skinheads. Still others are specific logos of the white
supremacist groups many neo-Nazi skinheads join.
John-Wayne look
Boots and braces -  
Anti-alien dock-workers
Political symbolism  -
Rounded out activism  
Flight-jacket legend -
Aviator-crew bravado
Mosley tradition -
Skin as uniform
Breaking out  -
Carrying on
General Racist Symbols

A wide spectrum of racist groups, from neo-Nazis to the Klan to white power-oriented skinheads, use these symbols
interchangeably. They are instantly recognizable by those who employ them and serve as a common language for
them to communicate their ideas. Most represent some aspect of what they consider "Aryan" culture or "white pride."
Neo-Nazi Symbols

The groups that use neo-Nazi symbols generally idolize Adolf Hitler and idealize the National Socialist ideology he and
his party promoted and acted on in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. Symbols that were employed in Nazi Germany,
such as the swastika and SS bolts, feature prominently in the current neo-Nazi repertoire.
Several factors have coincided that have allowed the racist skinhead subculture to stage a comeback:

* Less competition.
From 2002-2005, many of the major established white supremacist groups suffered serious decline and disorganization,
typically due to the arrests or deaths of leaders and to serious factional fighting. Especially hard hit were the National
Alliance, the Creativity Movement (as the World Church of the Creator renamed itself), and Aryan Nations. The National
Alliance, in addition, alienated many racist skinheads because of anti-skinhead remarks made by the group's leaders,
William Pierce and Erich Gliebe, at a conference before Pierce's death in 2002. As a result, fewer would-be white
supremacists were being recruited into these established groups, causing many to turn instead to the racist skinhead
subculture.

* The Internet:

o White power music. Since the late 1990s, the Internet has played an increasingly important role in the growth and
development of fringe social movements of all sorts. But in very specific ways, it helped enable a new growth of racist
skinhead activities. Perhaps most importantly, it gave new life to the white power music industry, around which much of
the racist skinhead subculture revolves. Now it no longer mattered that white power music was unavailable in stores,
because white power music companies could sell CDs and accessories directly to customers over the Internet. They could
also establish marketing tools such as "RadioWhite," an on-line white power music Internet radio station. In 2005,
RadioWhite maintained six different 24-hour music feeds, with more than 5,000 songs on its playlists.


o Recruiting Kids. From its beginning, young people have been attracted to the Internet, and America's youth now grow
up with the Internet. This has created an increased risk of young people being exposed to and attracted by white
supremacist propaganda. In 1985, few people were likely to come into contact with a white supremacist, but in 2005,
anybody can do so with the click of a mouse. Alienated white youth find a welcome reception on-line among white
supremacists, hungry for new recruits. Young men and women who do not fit in at home or at school find it easier to fit in
on-line. This has made it very easy for young people to be exposed to the online message forums and social networking
Web-sites prevalent in the racist skinhead subculture.


o Global Hate. The global reach of the Internet has allowed the creation of a truly international racist skinhead
community, with international groups such as Hammerskin Nation and Blood & Honour. It has made white power music a
global phenomenon and created a network of international white supremacist sites that put haters around the world in
touch with each other. European racist skinheads, using the Internet, helped to play a role in reinvigorating the American
scene. Now, both American and European racist skinheads are helping the subculture to expand rapidly in the countries of
the former Communist bloc.
The landscape of American extremism constantly changes. Recent years have witnessed:

*      increasing emphasis on "lone wolf" activism (acting in small cells or alone to avoid getting caught);
*      the ascendancy of the Internet as an instrument for extremist organizing and disseminating information;
*      the use of white power music as a recruiting tool by professional bigots like National Alliance head, William Pierce;
*      the emergence of Holocaust denial as an extremist lingua franca, both domestically and worldwide as well as budding
alliances between Western deniers and their Middle Eastern counterparts -- even as David Irving lost a widely publicized
libel lawsuit and other deniers were repeatedly defeated in their courtroom battles;
*      the increasing role of women in far-right movements;
*      the apparent demise of neo-Nazi stronghold Aryan Nations after the group and its aging leader, Richard Butler, lost a
multimillion dollar civil decision (stemming from an assault by its security guards);
*      opportunistic support of the antiglobalization movement and of the Palestinian cause by some on the far right;
*      the convergence between the radical right and some elements of the radical left -- conspiratorial antiglobalists and
hard-core anarchists in particular;
*      and, most recently, support for foreign anti-American terrorists.
Queer SKINHEAD Brotherhood

The violence among skinhead factions - some political and some just gangs chasing the adrenalin
rush - resulted in clubs refusing to book skinhead bands, so the settings where skinhead culture
could be enacted became sparse. But the image of the Nazi skinhead has captured the public
imagination, and talk shows are especially eager to put them on display. They have not shown as
much interest in the anti-racist skins who are very likely the majority of skinheads today. Nothing
can be assumed of any skinhead's politics although the patches on his flight might give some big
clues. Contrary to common belief, lace colors do not mean anything in most areas.

Forget everything you have ever heard about skinheads. Skins know who we are and recognize
each other, but there is not much agreement as to what exactly separates skin from nonskin. For
a lot of us, beer and brotherhood, oi and ska, defending the working class, and standing by your
mates are a big part of it. Well, you can't automatically assume a taste for large quantities of
beer: there is a growing number of straight-edge skins who avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs. For
most of us, racial politics are NOT a part of it, and not all of us think you have to be straight to be
skin.

There have been gay skins for as long as there have been skinheads, though an amazing
number of Skins like to think that all skinheads are straight and always have been.

Gay skinheads in Europe, especially London, have created a lively culture of their own; though
they are primarily sadomasochists who took on a skinhead identity as a replacement for the biker
and lumberjack styles of the leathermen.

In America, gay skins are few but are very much part of the regular skin scene, and keep their
distance from the disco-based, fashion-oriented gay culture. American skins can safely assume a
lot about each others' favorite music but nothing about their sexuality while generally speaking
the European gay skinheads make assumptions about a guy's sexual tastes if he appears to be a
skinhead but none at all about their music.

Why should you care who we fuck as long as we are not fucking you?