The Indigenous, Nonracist Origins of the American Skinhead Subculture

Researchers claim that the American skinhead subculture largely has been a racist phenomenon since its emergence. Moreover, researchers posit that the American skinhead subculture emerged primarily as a result of social network connections between organized American racists and British skinheads. This study challenges and adds to these claims. In particular, analyses of music lyrics, primary subcultural artifacts, and secondary sources indicate that the development of the American skinhead phenomenon largely was influenced by an indigenous and nonracist subculture known as “hardcore.” Findings contribute to a more complete understanding of American skinhead subcultural origins. Findings also provide support for recent theories about evolution and schism among contemporary youth subcultures.