Skinheads
I'm tired of skinheads. Don't get me wrong, I'm friends with a few. However, I would like to take this time to discuss the type of skinheads that I'm friends with--real skinheads.
Skinheads: A History
It began in Britain. In the mid-1960s, people were angry at idiots. The aftermath of WWII made jobs and the working class became restless and carefree. As a result, many new "mods" took hold. They dressed like business men and yuppies, but they were still working class. They were anti-fascists and anti-racist due to the war that had just gone on. This is just in general, mind you.
The idea of skinhead came out of the mod subculture. They were consumers, they were born into upper-middle class. They never originally intended to be political. That is, until the mid/late- 1960s rolled around. That's when a schism developed. Ska and hippies came out of the woodworks. People began to go far-right or far-left. Many stayed in the middle or tended towards the left. It is important to note that there were many black and skinheads of color. It is also important to note the following:
For some reason, skinheads love ska. Now, for those who do not know, ska is about unity. Ska is about differences. Ska is about coming together to overcome stereotypes. Many skinheads were SHARPs (Skinheads against Racial Prejudices) and are still today. I'm tired of folks going around combinging the skinheads and neonazis. That's not how it goes. Skinheads are part of a subculture. A subculture with differences in politics. Neonazis are part of a hate group. Ska isn't about hate, skinheads aren't about hate, people are not naturally born to hate. End. Of. Story.
I bring this up because tonight I saw The Toasters on their 25 year anniversary tour. As always, it was a slamming show. In leaving, I saw some friends and their group of friends in the street. Now, as a group of punks, this isn't unusual, but they weren't moving. Eventually they did, but my friend walked alongside our Astrovan. I already knew he was angry, but prior to this, I figured he was just grumpy or tired of "the kids" roaming around. Instead, he looked me in the eyes and asked me if I wanted to beat up some Nazis. I'm not one for violence, personally. Militancy, sure. Violence never. I'm also pretty fucking far left, so I can't stand folks like that. I was half-tempted to get out, but I had an obligation to the driver and our passenger. Continuing, I saw them. A group of 15-20 Neo-Nazis who had shown up to a ska show. Better yet, for a ska band with a person of color in their midsts. Their ignorance enver ceases to surprise me.
Upon getting back to my friend's house (the one who was driving, and our passenger's), I got in an argument about what a skinhead is. I know I'm right. It just surprised me that the argument came from a) a ska band and b) history students. I should buy them a book or something.
From now on, strangers, when you read this, get your facts straight: Real skinheads are anti-racist, anti-fascist. And if you have an issue with that, you need some help.
Skinheads: A History
It began in Britain. In the mid-1960s, people were angry at idiots. The aftermath of WWII made jobs and the working class became restless and carefree. As a result, many new "mods" took hold. They dressed like business men and yuppies, but they were still working class. They were anti-fascists and anti-racist due to the war that had just gone on. This is just in general, mind you.
The idea of skinhead came out of the mod subculture. They were consumers, they were born into upper-middle class. They never originally intended to be political. That is, until the mid/late- 1960s rolled around. That's when a schism developed. Ska and hippies came out of the woodworks. People began to go far-right or far-left. Many stayed in the middle or tended towards the left. It is important to note that there were many black and skinheads of color. It is also important to note the following:
For some reason, skinheads love ska. Now, for those who do not know, ska is about unity. Ska is about differences. Ska is about coming together to overcome stereotypes. Many skinheads were SHARPs (Skinheads against Racial Prejudices) and are still today. I'm tired of folks going around combinging the skinheads and neonazis. That's not how it goes. Skinheads are part of a subculture. A subculture with differences in politics. Neonazis are part of a hate group. Ska isn't about hate, skinheads aren't about hate, people are not naturally born to hate. End. Of. Story.
I bring this up because tonight I saw The Toasters on their 25 year anniversary tour. As always, it was a slamming show. In leaving, I saw some friends and their group of friends in the street. Now, as a group of punks, this isn't unusual, but they weren't moving. Eventually they did, but my friend walked alongside our Astrovan. I already knew he was angry, but prior to this, I figured he was just grumpy or tired of "the kids" roaming around. Instead, he looked me in the eyes and asked me if I wanted to beat up some Nazis. I'm not one for violence, personally. Militancy, sure. Violence never. I'm also pretty fucking far left, so I can't stand folks like that. I was half-tempted to get out, but I had an obligation to the driver and our passenger. Continuing, I saw them. A group of 15-20 Neo-Nazis who had shown up to a ska show. Better yet, for a ska band with a person of color in their midsts. Their ignorance enver ceases to surprise me.
Upon getting back to my friend's house (the one who was driving, and our passenger's), I got in an argument about what a skinhead is. I know I'm right. It just surprised me that the argument came from a) a ska band and b) history students. I should buy them a book or something.
From now on, strangers, when you read this, get your facts straight: Real skinheads are anti-racist, anti-fascist. And if you have an issue with that, you need some help.
posted by Meg M at 9:56:00 PM
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