Review of an Article:
The search for authenticity: An exploration of an online skinhead Newsgroup

ALEX CAMPBELL
The University of New England, USA

This article discuss the identity of skinheads, and how their image stays in connection with racism and white identity. In this ethnographic study they explore online skinhead newsgroups, who dispute a racial opionion. But in these online newsgroups of skinheads there is a “…widespread commitment of white identity”. The internet is a new media wich makes it possible, that skinheads all over the world can meet virtual, and share out their thinkings and opinions. With the media internet racism changed, because with help of internet racial people can reach more people with their inacceptable prejudices. But in the study they also discuss skinheads who are not racial and who are skinheads because of music and the style of this culture. Some of them use certain websites just to be part of a community, to get to know people with the same interests. In this article they make differences between racist, non-racist and anti-racist skinhead websites and groups.
In the study they explain it with a short view on history of skinheads, that in the origin idea of skinhead culture there was no racial background. The ideas of skinhead identity (for example narratives of whiteness) are represented as texts and chatrooms in the internet.
The internet is also used from some people to influence racial action in the real world and to form a global skinhead culture. In the article they also discuss the problem that people generally think that all skinheads are racists. If you take a look on the history of the beginning of skinhead culture in the 60´s you can see, that it was a response to the hippie culture. It was a ´male´ answer to the ´female´ hippie movement, wich remarked especially in clothing and style. For example skinheads have short hair, typical boots and military trowsers. The culture of skinheads was inluenced from black culture, especially in music. Many elements of skinheads music come from reggae, jamaican music. In history there were many black skinhead groups. Some racial actions in the past threw a negative light on skinheads, and helped connect skinheads automatically with racism. The people in this study give comments on these topics.
This study works with qualitative methods. The online skinhead newsgroup wich was explored was multi layered. They work with special methods to create an individual community through special words, lyrics from songs etc. Long standing members have virtual friendships. The interviewed persons are long standing members of these groups. They come from North America (USA) and from Europe, especially from the UK. Although they are very far away from each other, they have a very familiar and close relationship. The author of the study kept in contact for one year with seven partisipants of this group, and they answered him some questions aubout skinheads and racism. This group is typically anti-rasist.They are in this group, because they want to find out more about skinhead culture. They said, that racism does not play any roll in their believes.
They talked about colour of peoples skin, and the members said that race is not important in relationships. But one of them also mentions that black people don´t like skinheads. So also skinheads become victims of prejudice. He said that he is no racist, but in the same sentence he mentions that he don´t like pakistani people. But these people also feel a connection between white race and skinhead culture. All of them had different opinions about this topic, wich also depends on it from where they come from.
They also discuss gay people, and the discrimination of them from skinheads. In skinhead culture masculinity is a very important part. It was surprising that one of the men was gay, and he outed himself in internet. His virtual friends accepted it, but it was clear that there are some differences in the opinions. Some believe more in skinhead ideology, some of them don´t take it too serious.
This article is very interesting and informativ. It showed me a new perspectiv of skinheads. Especially the history of skinhead culture is very interesting, because there are many things which I did´nt know. The article also shows, that special groups which have some prejudices against other minoritys also become victims of prejudice.
But I think the methods of the study are not very good, because the sampling of the study is too small (only seven person) and so it is not representative. For me it was very difficult to read, and some parts of the text I didn´t understand. But I am very interested in this topic and I learned a lot of skinhead culture.

Hallo!

Ich hoffe es geht euch gut, und ihr seid genauso begeistert wie ich das Wochenende auf der Uni zu verbringen!