Skinheads: A Guide to an American Subculture

(Hardback)

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Description

This book provides a fascinating examination of one of the most notorious countercultures in the United States. Skinheads: A Guide to An American Subculture is an insider's look at the history of skinheads in the United States, from their emergence from the U.S. hardcore underground in the 1980s in New York City, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, to the current scene that thrives in many major metropolitan areas today. What makes this revelatory book so compelling is its one-of-a-kind view of skinhead culture from the inside out. Coauthor Perry Hardy is a skinhead, bass player for the band, The Templars, and veteran member of the American skinhead scene since the onset of the movement. Based on his experiences, plus interviews with dozens of skinheads of all kinds, Skinheads draws back the curtain to reveal a world that more often is simply a haven for those disaffected from society, rather than a subculture of hatred or violence.

Reviews

Travis and Hardy's well-researched overview of American skinhead subculture begins with its emergence in the punk rock scene of the early 1980s and traces its evolution through a period of politicization through the nuanced history of the movement. Skinhead subculture began without a racist element; Hardy himself is an avowed nonracist skinhead and a member of a skinhead punk band, the Templars. An invaluable insider perspective. * Library Journal Online *
Despite the book's slim size, it offers a well-rounded overview of the topic. This volume is ideal for undergraduates and high school students. Summing Up: Recommended. * Choice *

Author Bio

Tiffini A. Travis is librarian and liaison for the Communication Studies Department at California State University, Long Beach. Perry Hardy is a bass player for the skinhead band, The Templars.