How to write

I once wrote a character who believed in racial separation, warping the ideals of cultural diversity and hiding his hate beneath a veneer of respectability.  It can be interesting to peel away the layers and expose an ugly core, especially when the ugliness is so relevant to our lives. I really wanted to portray a charming, intelligent guy, completely devoid of compassion or tolerance.

Here’s an excerpt…

“We just happened to be a group of white kids.  If we had been a group of black kids, there wouldn’t have been a problem. Shit, today they’re calling it Diversity.  We’ve gone to classes to hear all about respecting different races but where is our respect?  I don’t ever hear them talking about White Americans in all this diversity bullshit.”

“You see what I’m saying?” Garrett picked up on Simpson’s slight nod, accepting it as consent to continue. “Why shouldn’t we show some white pride?”

Simpson could see how this kid gathered people to him.  His speech on white pride would be the perfect lure for middle class white kids, struggling to define themselves in a society wrought with racial conflict, violence and doubt.

Simpson recognized the smoke screen, the justification that covered a racist underbelly.  Kids would be drawn in with Garrett’s words of pride and accomplishment, but what would they find within the inner sanctum of the group? 

- Quiet Corners

Tom Metzger, founder of WAR (White Aryan Resistance) a militant offshoot of the KKK, organizes festivals across the national.  The festivals draw large groups of young adults, blending racism and religious zeal into a brew of hatred. 

In years past, members of these organizations were adults, but now young people are being recruited. “… 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.” (1) Skinheads are the sons and daughters of the white middle class, who feel ignored or disenfranchised. 

Ashley Brown epitomizes the new Skinheads, hiding his racism under a clean cut façade.  He publishes his own newsletter, The Vanguard, spreading white supremacy propaganda. He plans to run for office, with the intention of creating change from within the system.  The radical fringe is moving into the mainstream.  Metzger presented a plan for revolution during a unity gathering in 2003.  ”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.” (1)

Resistance Records produces bands such as: Bound for Glory, Rahowa and Aggregavated Assault, which spread racial separatist ideals through lyrics; lyrics that connect with young adults. 

Families are often confused and helpless when their children are indoctrinated into such groups.  Some of the children have run away from home or been rejected by their families and seek refuge. Skinhead gangs, often called “crews” such as: Hammerskin Nation, Keystone State Skinheads, or the Connecticut White Wolves, offer a sense of belonging and purpose.

Skinheads are the fastest growing fraction and most violent segment of the White Supremacist Movement, though many skinheads are not aligned to any group.

Members tattoo symbols to display their history of violence like a badge of honor. A spider web tattoo on the elbow symbolizes time spent in jail, although it may also be earned by assaulting or killing a minority. Nazi Bolts are earned for an act of violence, such as a stabbing or shooting which doesn’t result in death. Blackened Nazi Bolts are earned for killing a minority as are shamrocks (2) Images of pitbulls, runes, Odin’s cross and various Nazi symbols are common tattoos selected by skinheads.

Fueled by alcohol and hate, gang members of DMS (Doc Marten Stalkers) killed Julio Riveria, simply because he was gay.  The police did not classify the crime as a hate crime until community pressure forced them to acknowledge the motivation behind the crime.

The Aryan National Front, lead by Bill Riccio, a three time felon, is based in Alabama.  The group organizes demonstrations, chanting racial slurs and marching along the streets.  Their hate extends to blacks, jews and homosexuals.  A Unification Rally was called to unite skinheads and the KKK under one banner of Fourteen Words.  “Fourteen Words” is shorthand for their rallying cry: “We must secure the existence of our people and the future for white children.”

1. Anti Defamation League (www.adl.org)

2. Leyden, TJ, Strhatetalk.com