From rebellion through rivalries to reformation
They weren't called "Skinheads." Not yet, at least. In the Fifties, they were just the "boys next door," all-American kids with crew-cuts, trying to emulate their dads, who had close-cropped locks from service in the Korean War and World War II and who were seen as honorable, manly and patriotic. "Crew" cut was derived from the "flight-crew," whose bravado, clean-cut appearance and camaraderie had become legendary. In fact, long hair was a military no-no, since nothing was supposed to get in the way of seeing, hearing and fighting. In peacetime, sporting a crew cut and staying fit was a sort of a substitute for serving in uniform. Athletes, in particular, maintained a sleek, close-cropped appearance, which enhanced the image of prowess, self-worth and fraternity. Football players, on occasion, would shave their heads, entirely, as a kind of challenge to win a game or to display cut-above teamwork. In short, such early "Skinheads" had claim to being "the best," "the strongest" and the truest Americans. The T-shirt was first worn as underwear by French soldiers in World War I, but was quickly adapted by American troops, becoming standard-issue in World War II. Civilians picked up the trend, wearing the T-shirt beneath their regular shirt, until John Wayne popularized wearing a T-shirt as an outer-garment in the Fifties. Those who would become future Skinheads picked up on the "macho" and "Cowboy" image, depicted by Wayne, as the casual, white shirts became a trademark, of sorts, for cutting-edge youth, thrust into street-battles against Negroes, Communists and, later, hippies vying to take over their schools, neighborhoods and government. Fade from Little Rock, with its fight against integration, to London, with its fight against immigration. Young, post-war Brits were every bit cast from the same mold as their American counterparts, with their T-shirts and crew-cuts, except that London dock-workers had begun to cut their hair even closer, down to the very skin, as well as to wear "braces" or suspenders and boots as they performed the tough tasks of their trade. Since the docks were the arrival-point of non-white aliens and focus of English antagonism, the garb and look of dock-workers became known as an anti-immigrant and anti-integration statement and the workers, themselves, became known as Skinheads. Before long, You Skinhead came to refer to anyone who expressed intensely patriotic sentiments, particularly against incompatible foreigners. By mid-Sixties, as those duking it out against Africanization in America were called "segregationists," those fighting the same battle in England were known as "Skinheads." The next milestone came as Skinheads began to use emblems, in addition to their basic Skinhead attire, as accouterments to their cause. Joe Pearce, editor of the Bulldog magazine, became a pioneer in popularizing the Cross of Saint George as a Skinhead insignia. The four-pointed ensign began to appear on pins, patches and T-shirts to signify not only "hope and glory" for England but for Skinheads. Flight-jackets were worn, a throw-back to the "flight-crews" which had inspired short-hair and brotherhood, in the first place, soon being covered with badges ranging from symbols of knights and army-units to historical landmarks and political associations. Skinheads had become what some might have considered to be the "consummate" Englishmen, sort of peacetime national guardsmen, patrolling the docks, bashing intruders and defending their turf, as none others could or would. A Skinhead icon had become Parliamentarian Enoch Powell, who encouraged anti-immigrant sentiment, warning of "rivers of blood" if Africans were admitted to the country. But, just as Powell himself was ostracized by "mainstream" politicians, so were Skinheads. Until the National Front, which came into existence during the Seventies to combat immigration, began to receive Skinheads and elevate them in its ranks. In fact, usually "prim and proper" party-functions began to be dotted with flight-jackets, which soon became quite commonplace and acceptable, next to the most staid of button-down suits. Ian Stuart became a popular
bandleader, hosting Rock Against Communism concerts and singing stirring, patriotic ballads, which came to be known as Skinhead Music. Since many Skinhead dock-workers also went without shirts on the job, the shirtless motif spilled over into concerts and political rallies, reviving the genre originated by Oswald Mosley, when Parliament banned the wearing of "political uniforms" by the British Union. Some Skinheads even suggested that "your skin is your uniform.” Skinheads remained a localized phenomenon until 1985, when black-rioting brought droves of Skinheads into the streets at the Broad water Estates housing-project to show what fists and shaved heads could do, ...
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bandleader, hosting Rock Against Communism concerts and singing stirring, patriotic ballads, which came to be known as Skinhead Music. Since many Skinhead dock-workers also went without shirts on the job, the shirtless motif spilled over into concerts and political rallies, reviving the genre originated by Oswald Mosley, when Parliament banned the wearing of "political uniforms" by the British Union. Some Skinheads even suggested that "your skin is your uniform.” Skinheads remained a localized phenomenon until 1985, when black-rioting brought droves of Skinheads into the streets at the Broad water Estates housing-project to show what fists and shaved heads could do, when police turned out to be out manned and outnumbered. On the second night of rioting, which police still had been unable to contain, large numbers of ordinary Brits, seething with resentment against the Africanization of their native land, who had sported "Beatle" haircuts up until that moment, shaved their heads in solidarity with the Skinheads, poured out into the streets and joined the battle to put the “immigrants” back in their place. The resulting victory was not only a resounding "wake-up" call for Skinheads. Skinhead recruiting promptly catapulted to France, cris-crossed Scandinavia, fanned out to Germany, Hungary and the Baltics and leaped the Atlantic, reverberating to Australia and Canada.1988 marked the next gigantic leap-forward as Michael Palasch convened Skinheads in the streets of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, where their bare-fists, battling against Reds, hippies and black-power gangs, startled the world and allured the nation. Palasch, then, appeared on the fateful Geraldo Show, where a fight broke out when a black man tried to strangle a guest, the Skinheads fought back and the Hispanic host's nose was broken in the melee. Palasch, then, punctuated his newfound recognition on Larry King Live, clearly delineating how a Skinhead is just the opposite of a hippy and giving hope and purpose to an entire generation. Prophetically, Palasch wore a Confederate flag on his sleeve, adding the flavor of the Old South, Back-To-Africa and rebellion. As a result, the Confederate banner showed up in Vilnius, in protests against Russians, in Boston, against homosexuals, and, of course, in Mississippi, against African-Americans. The banner, also, served as kind of a handshake between Skinheads all the way from Sydney to Helsinki, knowing that the forces which had once defeated the Reconstruction could defeat "diversity," once againIn 1989, a pact was signed between the Americans and the English in London pledging unity and cooperation. Both The National Front and The Nationalist Movement began to promote Skinheads, with the youthful and militant momentum which had become the fastest-growing social-reform phenomena in recent memory. However, two strategies emerged, thereafter. One, by Tom Metzger in California, urged Skinheads to become vigilantes and neo-Nazis. The other, by Richard Barrett in Mississippi, insisted that Skinheads use the law to get organized and present themselves as nothing less than all-American patriots. For a while, there were rivalries, where one group might call itself the Old Glory Skinheads and another the Fourth Reich Skinheads. One might call itself Red, White and Blue, while another might use the name Swastika. Tensions increased as Skinhead factions often expended more energy combating each other than their opposition. Eventually, when Metzger was sued and bankrupted for involvement in a murder and a number of Skinheads had gone to jail, Metzger called upon Skinheads to "grow your hair out." However, Barrett demanded the opposite. He said that Skinheads must expand their numbers and increase their influence, praising their cause as a new Reformation, which would bring about the final downfall of Communism. Camps, conferences and "unity-fests" ensued, as Skinheads moved to police their ranks, build bridges and, most of all, appeal to the public. Skinheads began to call themselves "Nationalists," which tended to de-emphasize differences in approaches and build unity. Slogans, pins and Internet offerings heralded the slogan Skinhead Unity and Skins United in a bid to march forward in lock-step. Then, all of a sudden, "Skinheads" began to emerge in ways which were totally unexpected. Some calling themselves "Skinheads" simply cropped their hair short, but did not shave their heads, sort of a throwback to their forerunners of the Fifties. Or, some would say simply that they were "in solidarity" with Skinheads, albeit not actual Skinheads, themselves. Others might don a Crosstar pin, Skinhead T-shirt or boots once in a while as their own subtle but pointed personal political statement. When "Skinhead insignia" was banned in a New Jersey high-school, enterprising students took up wearing short-hair, matching jeans, white T-shirts and boots, without any insignia at all. Officials complained that they had been "outsmarted" and were "powerless to stop them." Another unexpected but powerful boost came when Skinheads began to win their rights back, which they already had, and gain new rights, which they often had not been aware they even had. First, under Mark Watts, backing down opponents in Georgia in court. And, then, under Dusty Steverson, defeating foes in Florida through public protest. Skinheads, then, began to appear more and more in public, over the Internet and on television. Some were strident, rude and even belligerent. But, increasingly, Skinheads became polished in how they spoke and persuasive in laying out their goals. As the new Century got underway, so did Skinheads. Internet pages, publications and get-togethers dramatically increased. Some Skinheads, such as Eric Dixon, offered encouragement from prison. Others, like Rob Dorgan, from the stump speech in the public square. Still others, like Pete Barker, from the keyboard at his computer. The word "Skinhead" had become part of the English language and was, by then, included in the dictionary. Numerous books have been written about Skinheads, movies made and documentaries circulated. While many have been inaccurate and some attempted to outright twist the cause, commentaries have had to acknowledge that Skinheads have made their mark. Some have even labeled them "unstoppable." Skinhead symbols, pins and patches continue to gain ground, but, nowadays, are just as often seen on a backpack of a student as on the flight-jacket of a protester. When Skinheads gathered in Mississippi, the news media went all-out to cover them, and showed that they were unduly a negative hate group that should be outlawed. The Public Broadcasting System joined in to produce a feature on them. The underlying theme seemed to be that since Skinheads were associated with the Confederate flag and Mississippi had been a Confederate, slave-holding state, the "Skinhead factor" would play into the hands of the Black Caucus, by driving people away from their heritage and aspirations. Editorials showed the true colours of the skinheads by describing many recent hate crimes and acts of vandalism they had casued. Skinheads and whites were "losers" and "the past," but that "diversity" and "affirmative-action" were the wave of the future. As the Confederate flag was being put to a vote in Mississippi, black riots rocked Cincinnati. The referendum would, in effect, decide if Skinheads, Nationalists and patriots were just "on the fringes" or were a powerful force, poised to make dramatic change in the nation and the world. The flag won, with two out of three votes. So, as the more reckless and less-dedicated were weeded out or succumbed to attrition, Skinheads were becoming a more stirring and cohesive force, than ever before. Flirtation, by some, with the "grunge" look all-but faded away, as those touting Pure Blood, Pure Thought, Pure Skin came to the fore. Broadcasting, publishing and speaking have moved swiftly as Skinheads try to influence and win over public opinion. Atached Below are the 25 points of National Socialism and what skinheads stand for.25 POINTS OF AMERICAN NATIONAL SOCIALISMWe demand the union of all Whites into a greater America on the basis of the right of national self-determination. We demand equality of rights for the American people in its dealings with other nations, and the revocation of the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Bank, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund. We demand land and territory (colonies) to feed our people and to settle surplus population. Only members of the nation may be citizens of the state. Only those of pure White blood, whatever their creed, may be members of the nation. Non-citizens may live in America only as guests and must be subject to laws for aliens. Accordingly, no Jew or homosexual may be a member of the nation. The right to vote on the State government and legislation shall be enjoyed by citizens of the state alone. We therefore demand that all official appointments, of whatever kind, whether in the nation, in the states or in smaller localities, shall be held by none but citizens. We oppose the corrupting parliamentary custom of filling posts merely in accordance with party considerations and special interests-without reference to character or abilities. We demand that the State shall make it its primary duty to provide a livelihood for its citizens. If it should prove impossible to feed the entire population, foreign nationals (non-citizens) will be deported. All non-White immigration must be prevented. We demand that all non-Whites currently residing in America be required to leave the nation forthwith and return to their land of origin: peacefully or by force. All citizens shall have equal rights and duties, regardless of class or station. It must be the first duty of every citizen to perform physical or mental work. The activities of the individual must not clash within the framework of the community and be for the common good. We therefore demand: The abolition of incomes unearned by work The breaking of interest slavery. In view of the enormous personal sacrifices of life and property demanded of a nation by any war, personal enrichment from war must be regarded as a crime against the nation. We therefore demand the ruthless confiscation of all war profits. We demand the nationalization of all businesses which have been formed into corporations (trusts). We demand economic reform suitable to our national requirements; The prohibition of pro-marxist unions and their supplantation with National Socialist trade unions; The passing of a law instituting profit-sharing in large industrial enterprises; The creation of a livable wage; The restructuring of social security and welfare to include drug testing for welfare recipients; The immediate discontinuation of all taxes on things of life's necessity, such as food, clothing, shelter, medicine etc.: The replacement of the current tax system with a flat-rate tax based on income. We demand the treasonable system of health care be completely revolutionized. We demand an end to the status quo in which people die or rot away from lack of proper treatment due to the failure of their medical coverage, Health Maintenance Organization, or insurance policy. We further demand the extensive development of insurance for old age and that prescription drugs be made both affordable and accessible. We demand the creation and maintenance of a healthy middle class, the immediate communalizing of big department stores and their lease at a cheap rate to small traders, and that the utmost consideration shall be shown to all small trades in the placing of state and municipal orders. We demand a land reform suitable to our national requirements, that shall be twofold in nature: The primary land reform will be to ensure all members of the nation receive affordable housing. The party as such stands explicitly for private property. However, we support the passing of a law for the expropriation of land for communal purposes without compensation when deemed necessary for land illegally acquired, or not administered in accordance with the national welfare. We further demand the abolition of ground rent, the discontinuation of all taxes on property, and the prohibition of all speculation in land. The secondary land reform will be to ensure the environmental integrity of the nation is preserved; By setting aside land for national wildlife refuges; By cleaning the urban, agricultural, and hydrographical (water) areas of the nation; By creating legislation regulating the amount of pollution, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases , and toxins released into the atmosphere; And for the continued research and development of clean burning fuels and energy sources. We demand the ruthless prosecution of those whose activities are injurious to the common interest. Murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug dealers, usurers, profiteers, race traitors, etc. must be severely punished, whatever their creed or race. We demand that Roman edict law, which serves a materialistic new world order, be replaced by Anglo-Saxon common law. The state must consider a thorough reconstruction of our national system of education with the aim of opening up to every able and hardworking American the possibility of higher education and of thus obtaining advancement. The curricula of all educational establishments must be brought into line with the requirements of practical life. The aim of the school must be to give the pupil, beginning with the first sign of intelligence, a grasp of the state of the nation through the study of civic affairs. We demand the education of gifted children of poor parents, whatever their class or occupation, at the expense of the state. The state must ensure that the nation's health standards are raised by protecting mothers, infants, and the unborn: By prohibiting abortion and euthanasia, except in cases of rape, incest, race-mixing, or mental retardation By prohibiting child labor and ending the rudiments of child abuse, alcoholism, and drug addiction. By creating conditions to make possible the reestablishment of the nuclear family in which the father works while the mother stays at home and takes care of the children if they so choose. By taking away the economic burden associated with childbirth and replacing it with a structured system of pay raises for those that give birth to healthy babies, thereby returning the blessing associated with children. To further ensure that the nation's health standards are raised, legislation shall be passed promoting physical strength and providing for compulsory gymnastics and sports, and by the extensive support of clubs engaged in the physical training of youth. We demand the right to bear arms for law-abiding citizens. We demand the abolition of the mercenary army, the end to the over-use of our military as a 'Meals-on-Wheels' program in foreign lands of no vital interest to our nation; and the formation of a true national service for the defense of our race and nation. One that excludes: non-Americans, criminals, and sensitivity training. We demand legal warfare on deliberate political mendacity and its dissemination in the press. To facilitate the creation of a national press we demand: (a) That all editors of and contributors to newspapers appearing in the English language must be members of the nation; (b) That no non-American newspapers may appear without the express permission of the State. They must not be written in the English language; (c) That non-Whites shall be prohibited by law from participating financially in or influencing American newspapers, and that the penalty for contravening such a law shall be the suppression of any such newspapers, and the immediate deportation of the non-Americans involved. The publishing of papers which are not conducive to the national welfare must be forbidden. We demand the legal prosecution of all those tendencies in art and literature which corrupt our national life, and the suppression of cultural events which violate this demand. We demand absolute religious freedom for all denominations in the State, provided they do not threaten its existence nor offend the moral feelings of the White race. The Party combats the Jewish-materialistic spirit within and without us, and is convinced that our nation can achieve permanent health only from within on the basis of the principle: The common good before self-interest. To put the whole program into effect, we demand the creation of a strong central national government for the nation; the unconditional authority of the political central parliament over the entire nation and its organizations; and the formation of committees for the purpose of carrying out the general legislation passed by the nation and the various American States(Taken from http://www.nsm88.com/25points/25pointsengl.html) References: Skinheads.net Skinheadz.com Nsm88.com nazi.org http://www.nsec-88.org/ New nation.org http://geocities.com/nationalistspride/ ifamericansknew.org