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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. 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.

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 and Nazi skinhead movement then spread to other countries, including the United States.

History of 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. In 1989, Roddy Moreno of the Welsh Oi! band The Oppressed visited New York and met many SHARP members. On his return to the United Kingdom, he started promoting SHARP ideals to British skinheads.[9] [10]SHARP then appeared in Germany, throughout Europe and in other continents.[11] However, many of the USA groups have formally disbanded, and in the 2000s, SHARP has become more of an individual designation than an official organization. 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).[12]

History of SHARP outside the USA

After Roddy Moreno bought SHARP to Europe, the attitude was more down to the individual (unlike the SHARP "groups" of the USA). The SHARP mentality then spread through other parts of the world - again, as a mentality as opposed to an organistaion. This mentality has since served to unite Skinheads worldwide as a common mentality, who find unity and a common ground in their beliefs of keeping the Skinhead lifestyle non-racist and non-political. Over time, more political factions (such as RASH) have appeared across many parts of the world. They are never in conflict with SHARPs (and even share a lot of common beliefs), but a lot of SHARPs still consider themselves separate from the more political Skinhead factions (as they don't see themselves as a political movement and, in some ways, have very different views to the more political Skinheads).

References

  1. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_1_38/ai_n6234788/pg_1
  2. ^ Old Skool Jim. Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set liner notes. London: Trojan Records. TJETD169.
  3. ^ Marshall, George (1991). Spirit of '69 - A Skinhead Bible. Dunoon, Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 1-898927-10-3).
  4. ^ http://www.reggaereggaereggae.com/Special%20Articles.htm
  5. ^ Violence In Our Minds - The Skinhead Nation
  6. ^ Monty Montgomery of the Pyramids/Symarip interview
  7. ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909318,00.html?promoid=googlep
  8. ^ http://www.skinheadnation.co.uk/newyorkskinheads.htm
  9. ^ http://www.theoppressed.co.uk/home.html
  10. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/oppressed/
  11. ^ http://www.skinheadnation.co.uk/sharpskinheads.htm
  12. ^ http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp?T=30&m=4.
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