Skinhead Subculture free essay sample

The Skinhead culture has a variety of subcultures within the culture itself due to the evolution and separation of different groups of skinheads. The Skinhead subculture originated in the mid to late sixties and was created by the working class community that had a strong fondness for fashion and music. The original Skinheads enjoyed listening to soul, ask, bluebell, and rocketed music. They were also highly influenced by the Jamaican Rude Boy subculture, Reggae, and Rationalisms.From this original subculture many there styles and forms of Skinhead subcultures sprouted from this. Regardless of most of them have similar styles to you and me, subtle differences separate the groups. Despite their similar styles they can have vastly diverse beliefs and values. I am going to focus on a particular group of Skinheads called SHARP which stands for Skinheads Against Racial prejudice. SHARP originated in New York in 1987 by Marcus Apaches to demonstrate that the skinhead subculture was not based on racist beliefs or political extremism. The SHARP subculture was spread to the I-J because of a sit by a member of the band The Oppressed who then began to support the SHARP morals to British skinheads. The SHARP subculture was then spread throughout Europe but took on a stance that was more founded upon the individual rather than the group as a whole. The core values and beliefs that the SHARP skinheads hold is a strong hatred for Nazism and Communism. They also embrace much value in the working class people, since they are from the working class community. But the main belief that unites all SHARP skinheads is the strong opposition to racism.The non-material culture that sakes the SHARP skinheads distinct form the mainstream culture is their strong beliefs in the anti-communism and anti-racist beliefs. The SHARPS have almost a extreme position against racism which makes them stand out in the fight against racism around the world. Some of the traditions or customs that the SHARP skinheads hold is the strong value in the working class people and members that are hard working. The symbols that certain versions of the SHARP skinheads wear proudly is a SHARP patch which distinguishes the anti- racist skinheads from racist skinheads.Also frequent gang wars between SHARP members and members of Nazi or racist skinheads are also a common way that the skinheads show their dominance and give themselves their own identity. The SHARP skinheads mores involve pride in being a working class citizen. There is often a difference between the amounts of hard work you do and how your status is in the SHARP group. There is a large quantity of pride held in this belief. Depending on the type or extremeness level of a particular SHARP group associating with other groups of skinheads is either acceptable or offensive.Also punk kids who might want to impersonate styles of even wear the same patch as the SHARPs is highly frowned upon. Mostly in Europe do the SHARP skinheads use the media to perpetuate their beliefs such as having interviews showed on major television channels and debates between different groups of skinheads or other social activists. SHARP skinheads can be very political and use T. V. , radio, and the internet to facilitate their beliefs and ideals. A typical member of the SHARP skinheads is apart of the working class as previously stated.They put a lot ride in their work and have a lot of satisfaction for doing it. They in general listen to a lot of anti-racist punk music, which is inspired by the SHARP movement such as The Oppressed and other varying punk bands and styles. They are also avid fighters, so it is regular for SHARP skinheads to get into many gang fights. This is also representative of the fight against racism as they fight groups that are pro-racism or are apart of the Neo-Nazi skinheads so they hold a lot of importance in these fights because they feel that they are literally fighting racism. Their appearance is very different of that of the mainstream culture but can often get caught up in the similar facade of different skinhead groups. There is very subtle differences between SHARP skinheads and other skinhead groups such as the width of the suspenders (the wider it is the more likely it is tattoo are racist skinhead). Also the way you wear your suspenders, such as on your shoulders or hanging down below the hips. The main identifier Of SHARP skinheads and other skinheads are the type of patches they were on their jackets which either has their name r the name of a band related to their group.With regard to the mainstream society view of SHARP skinheads most people have not even heard of this particular group. But when an average person hears the word skinhead they often think of the racist radicals or neo-Nazis. So SHARP skinheads often get caught up in this generalization despite the fact that they are very different. SHARP skinheads are very offended when they get caught up in the same cluster as the racist skinheads which happen more often than not. The SHARP skinheads are very unique group of the skinhead culture.It was particularly amazing to me the roots of the skinhead subculture and how it evolved and created sub-groups that were very different from each other and even fought with each other. Overall the skinhead culture reflects how societys groups have evolved into the variety of groups and cultures we have today which all originated from a similar group and culture. It just goes to show you how observing a recent part of history and groups can demonstrate to you how the world became the way it is now.