Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice
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Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP) are anti-racist skinheads who oppose neo-Nazis and other political racists, especially if those racists call themselves skinheads.
SHARPs recognize the biracial origins of the skinhead subculture, and resent what they see as the hijacking of the skinhead name by racist extremists. Beyond the issue of anti-racism, there is no official political ideology of SHARP. However, some SHARPs have similar beliefs to politically-minded anti-fascist skinheads such as redskins and anarchists (such as those in the group Red and Anarchist Skinheads). Due to their anti-racist ideals, some SHARPs have been involved with groups such as Anti-Fascist Action or Anti-Racist Action. However, this is more based on personal beliefs, instead of directly associated with SHARP. In the 2000s, SHARP has become more of an individual designation than an official organization.
Before SHARP
The original skinhead subculture started in the United Kingdom in late 1960s, and had heavy British mod and Jamaican rude boy influences, including a love for ska and soul music.[1][2][3] [4] Although some skinheads (including black skinheads) had engaged in Paki bashing (random violence against Pakistanis and other South Asian immigrants), skinheads were not associated with an organized racist political movement in the 1960s.[5] [6] [7] However, in the late 1970s, a skinhead revival in the UK included a sizeable white nationalist faction, involving organizations such as the National Front, British Movement, Rock Against Communism and Blood and Honour. Because of this, the mainstream media began to label the whole skinhead identity as neo-Nazi. This new white power skinhead movement then spread to other countries, including the United States.
SHARP in the USA
Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice was started in New York City in 1987 by Marcus Pacheco as a way to show that the skinhead subculture is not based on racism and political extremism.[8] André Schlesinger (and his Oi! band The Press) and Jason O'Toole (vocalist of the hardcore punk group Life's Blood) were among SHARP's early supporters. According to a 2005 report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, SHARP groups were essentially defunct in the United States in that year (although the SPLC does not explain how it came to that conclusion).[9]
SHARP outside the USA
In 1989, Roddy Moreno of the Welsh Oi! band The Oppressed visited New York City and met many SHARP members. On his return to the United Kingdom, he started promoting SHARP ideals to British skinheads.[10][11] SHARP then appeared in Germany, throughout Europe and in other continents.[12] In the UK and other European countries, the SHARP attitude was more based on the individual than on organized groups.
On September 8th 2007, Javier Alonso a.k.a. "El Chigüiro", a member of a colombian SHARP group, stabbed to death a hardcore band guitarrist in Bogotá, Colombia.[13]
Footnotes
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_1_38/ai_n6234788/pg_1
- ^ Old Skool Jim. Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set liner notes. London: Trojan Records. TJETD169.
- ^ Marshall, George (1991). Spirit of '69 - A Skinhead Bible. Dunoon, Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 1-898927-10-3).
- ^ http://www.reggaereggaereggae.com/Special%20Articles.htm
- ^ Violence In Our Minds - The Skinhead Nation
- ^ Monty Montgomery of the Pyramids/Symarip interview
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909318,00.html?promoid=googlep
- ^ http://www.skinheadnation.co.uk/newyorkskinheads.htm
- ^ http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp?T=30&m=4.
- ^ http://www.theoppressed.co.uk/home.html
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/oppressed/
- ^ http://www.skinheadnation.co.uk/sharpskinheads.htm
- ^ http://www.eltiempo.com/bogota/2007-09-13/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3720097.html
Sometimes SHARP's will start fights with ex-racist people. Even if a person is against racism currently, the SHARP's still want to have a fight.