Thursday, September 17, 2009

Why Be S.H.A.R.P?

by Baldy73

Time and time again, it comes down to recognising the true and original roots of skinhead culture...

Skinhead culture was born out of racial harmony and socialisation between black and white youth, in and out of early ska and reggae dancehalls in London during the 1960's. Skinheads were an offshoot culture from the mods, who appreciated black soul music (mainly northern soul), mod rock and Jamaican ska and rocksteady. Skinheads were a mainly more working class group of the mods, who broke away from strict mod culture, becoming a splinter group called the 'Hard Mods', then calling themselves skinheads, sometime during the mid 60's. But they have always remained somewhat distant cousins.

Skinheads became more noticeable from their even shorter cropped hair, than their old counterparts.

Also from their boots and braces, and more dressed down working class look as opposed to the mods' dressed up look. Signifying they were more working class in a sense, and more rough and ready, than their mod cousins, who liked to strut about town and be seen in all the flashy latest fashions.





The traditional skinheads fron the 60's - 70's had the priviledge of remaining pretty much completely unpoliticised within their music and clothes based culture.

All skinhead culture had remained interracial, and the music had all been of black origin or influence. In 1969, 'skinhead reggae' (Trojan label reggae artists, that had been highly popular with skinheads), reached a pinnacle in sales, popularity and influence, in a resurgent skinhead movement. Hence the catchcry with a lot of traditional skinheads, 'Spirit of 69' - to symbolise biracial unity, and to pay respect and recognise skinheads early roots and influences.

In the early 80's in the UK, a new kind of skinhead music/movement was formed: 'Oi' music, of which Garry Bushell, (singer of the oi band, The Gonads), first coined the phrase.

Oi music, also known as, and best described as 'skinhead rock n roll' became the new skinhead music, for a new generation of younger skins and punk alike. Highly influenced by punk rock of the time, to the point where some would argue that there was no difference between punk and oi in sound. But there was - and is now - some subtle, to major, differences in style and sound. It's just that you need a knowledgable ear to tell the difference.

Oi music was 'a' political for the most part. And some was more left of centre, The Blood for instance, and the mostly notable of all, The Oppressed.

With the ultra-nationalist N.F (National Front), and B.M (British Movement) slowly taking hold, and influencing more and more impressionable younger, mostly uneducated, lower working class skinheads, the skinhead movement began to split. Those of the more traditionalist 'reggae skinheads' and ska skins mostly, and those 'oiskins' who were more musically and idealogically fans of such bands as The Oppressed, The Blood and the Angelic Upstarts, began segregating between the newer breed of skinheads - the more nationalist, aggressive and more often than not outwardly racist 'NF skins' or 'NF bootboys' and or 'Bovverboys'.

Ian Stuart, the singer of Skrewdriver, the first openly racist 'skinhead' band, became almost overnight, the hero/figurehead of ultra-nationalist skinheads every where, when Skrewdriver's first far right and white supremacist album was released - White Noise.

This was the begining of a new era, and was what to soon after become the progenitor of the neo-nazi 'skinhead' movement, namely 'Blood and Honour' and the 'Hammerskins'.

And the rest is history, and also still ongoing. The neo-nazi/white supremacist 'skinhead' movement is a complete hijacking, bastardisation and antithesis of the original and true skinhead movement.

This is not a singular or minority opinion based on personal bias,this is the reality and matter of fact.

In 1987 Marcus Pacheco, a hispanic traditional skinhead in New York, decided to draw a line in the sand. Sick and frustrated with all the media attention on the controversial 'nazi skinheads', he and a few close freinds formed the first Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice chapter in N.Y and the world.

His and their main aim was to try and form a movement that would preserve the ideology and culture of the original skinhead movement, in a more obvious and more public and prominent way. This was the primary aim of the original SHARP movement. Not to inject and force far left and extremist politics into the scene.

SHARP was formed to try and dismantle the stigma and demonisation of the original skinhead culture, nurtured by sensationalist media frenzy, and the far right and 'nazi skinheads.'

Roddy Moreno of The Oppressed, met up with sharp skins in NY in 1989 and took some SHARP flyers back to the UK. He promoted SHARP along with Anti-Fascist Action, a collective of punx, skins and others opposed to the far right infiltrating the UK scene and gaining more influence overall.

Soon after Moreno promoted SHARP in the Cardiff scene in Wales, where he and the band where based. The meaning and influence of SHARP spread throughout the rest of Europe and the rest of the world. Despite the media focus on nazi skins, or more rightly termed 'boneheads', which is the term used for nazi skins, amongst proper traditional skinheads, SHARP, anarchist skins, and redskins alike.






The number of SHARP greatly outnumber the population of nazi skins, world over. Some apolitical skins, or more rightly termed 'fencewalkers', think supporting SHARP is a pointless exercise, and choosing sides is just a hassle. And that some SHARP are just as militant and violent as the boneheads.

Maybe so, but gone are the days of the simple life of the skinhead. Political extremism and stigma have stained the skin culture forever, or so it seems for now.

Far right politics, racism and bigotry can not be confronted, or at the very least diffused with ambiguity or apathy.

By remaining apolitical and completely apathetic at all times, a person thereby indirectly gives way to such far right and extremist beliefs and actions to take their course, and condones such beliefs and even casual sentiment and influence to fester and grow.

Thereby giving a free pass for such things to continue.

SHARP is self explanatory, it represents only what is described within its title. Nothing more and nothing less, other than stating it is a traditional skinhead movement, with an emphasis on anti-racism.

So therefore there can never be any confusion as to what side of the fence a sharp skinhead stands on. This is the original and primary focus of SHARP.

There are some right-wing conservative sharp. But more often than not, sharp tend to to harbour more left-of-centre views, naturally.

There is no one political platform or designation of sharp. Only that of the SHARP individual.

The reality is these days, is that every skinhead will come into contact with, or be in a situation now and again, where they are in some way confronted by a mainstream member of the public who asks them, 'What do they stand for, and are they a racist?'

Also sometimes skinheads are put in a situtation, where they are witness to, or confronted by varying degrees of race hate activities, if they are in the company of of ultra-nationalist or neo-nazi "skinheads."

The question is, is it not the moral obligation as an ordinary citizen at the very least, or the responsiblity of any true skinhead, to at least show some kind of objection to racism and racial hate based violence? (More often than not perpetrated by boneheads.)

Where does the ordinary skinhead draw the line, at what place and time?

In this regard, surely it makes sense to already have drawn a line in the sand previously. Hence it would be highly unlikely to be drawn into such a situation in the first place. Its no doubt a lot easier to prove you're not a racist bonehead, if you're already wearing a SHARP t-shirt, polo shirt, or patch or pin badge at the very least.

To think that not ever having to show any solidarity or alignment with anti/non-racism as a skinhead, because of some naive and belligerent idea that the public should already know what you stand for as a skinhead, and that it's their fault that they might be ignorant of what a skin stands for, is contemptable, unrealistic, unthoughtful and ridiculous...

The longer the general population are kept/left in the dark, about the true meaning of the skinhead biracial roots and culture, the longer real skinheads worldover are going to suffer public condemnation and disdain...

The longer skinheads are going to have to look over their shoulders in areas of an ethnic majority. The longer skinheads are going to be verbally abused, and sometimes physically abused and spat on, just for looking like a skin and walking down the street. The longer skinheads are going to suffer hateful looks from passers by, and misguided prejudice from people in their jobs, and in other everyday situations..

I for one do not want to wear the crucified skin for the rest of my life, whether it be on a t-shirt or a tattoo, or whatever, like some fashion accessory and some self pitying symbol of martyrdom. When I have, WE have the opportunity and power as a collective culture, SHARP and real traditional skins alike, to change the way we are perceived as a global movement. With one united, solidified lasting effort we can change the way REAL skins are percieved.

Then finally one day soon we will have truly reclaimed our stolen culture back from the boneheads, our pride and dignity, and will regain respect from the public at large. If only through a globally unified and concerted effort through a campaign of SHARP and traditional skinhead awareness. I'm talking about, mass production of flyers, awareness benefit gigs, getting involved with mainstream community projects, while making the general population understand who you are and what you stand for as a skinhead. Rallies, speeches, blogs, and any other way you can think of how to make people aware of what the fuck a real skin is. If such a campaign were successfull, it would basically mean a lot less hassle for skinheads, to dress like and be skinheads in their daily lives for the rest of their lives.

I dont know about you, but that sounds like a real skinhead shangrilah to me, a proper skinhead utopia..

The true and original SHARP is basically just a traditional skinhead that has drawn a line in the sand. Not a political extremist, or overzealous PC thug. Just a skinhead that has the balls to take a real and lasting stand. And one that does not bow to fencewalker peer-group pressure, and or quiet their beliefs, just to fit in nicely into a group so as to not rock the boat. The sharp is unafraid and unashamed to show freindship and solidarity with other cultures and races, is proud of where skinhead came from and its Jamaican and West Indian roots and influences.

To marginalise, overlook and deny these facts, is to deny skinhead culture itself. This is not an idle opinion, this is fact. To be a real skinhead, you must respect and honour the origins and influences from where it started.

The true sharp does not start or partake in violence for the hell of it. Only when they are given no choice, and in defence of themselves, or friends and loved ones.

Some sharp might have 'apolitical' freinds, who might socialise with people on the other side of the fence. The thoughtful sharp knows where to draw the line, and avoid awkward situations and trouble. Not to run from a fight, just not to start one.

It's not the duty of a SHARP to lecture and bully people who might not care about sides and politics, but to let themselves make their own decisions, and hope they make the right ones. If they are not interested then that's their perogative, and its their right not to be pressured into decisions they dont want to make or feel comfortable with.

Aside from some of the bad rep and hype, some militant sharp have got in the past, most sharp would much prefer to just to live normal mostly peaceful lives. And much prefer not to have to go to war every time they would step out of the front door in the morning.

Most sharp would prefer to live the ordinary life of a skinhead, appreciating and contributing positively to skinhead culture.

A SHARP is just another skinhead that enjoys skinhead music, clothes and lifestyle, and celebrating good times with friends.

A REAL SHARP is a REAL SKINHEAD, no more and no less than any REAL traditional skinhead.




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12 comments:

  1. "This is not a singular or minority opinion based on personal bias,this is the reality and matter of fact."

    VERY well put

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Nice to see a like-minded site based in Oz. For those of you into old ska, try listening to SHARP Radio:
    http://www.spraci.com/pages/bennis/ultra-scarves-au-tt.htm

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  4. Peddle your Daily worker elsewhere. Thought this was a skin site. Where are the R,A.C reviews. Sounds like Communist faggots patting each other on their baldy punk rocker heads.I saw CCTV footage of Roddy of Oppressed beating a poor black roadie in a parking lot. with a few friends jumping in to beat the Negro.Has he pulled that hammer and sickle out of his ass and joined the "White" side. - Racial Reguards, -Antifa Hunter88

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    1. metapedia is a piece of shit (like you) webside,and you are a Fucking piece of shit racist bastard WHITE POOR TRASH FUCKING SCUM,just like you Fucking prostitute and son of a bitch mother filthy fucking racist piece of shit,hitler was a homo like you,fucking piece of shit bastard
      antifa hunter?pffffff jajajajaja you are a fucking clown racist scum

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    2. Faggot piss the fuck off our univerce

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  5. This is Encyclopedia entry on Skinheads. Mentions nothing of your 2 tone spirit of 69' crap.
    http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Skinheads
    Besides Encyclopedia on Sharps say they're "Degenerate drug addicts"
    http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Skinheads_Against_Racial_Prejudice

    Is this Roddy and his mates showing the poor oppressed black man how to "Work Together"?I'd call that a hate crime. The racist.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epOC_H3NXr8

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  6. pffff jajajajaja you are a fucking ignorant filthy nazi bastard,real skinheads are not nazis,you understand WHITE POOR TRASH,NAZI SCUM PIECE OF SHIT ,fuck you nazi bastard piece of shit,you and your farmer prostitute and piece of shit mother
    anti antifa jajajajaja
    nazi punks (and boneheads) fuck off!

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    Replies
    1. Fuck you nigger, real skins are racist you dick in the booty shit gibbon fucking poser sharp.

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  7. Don't call my mother a pei CE of shit pin dick fuck off

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    Replies
    1. Shut the fuck up nigger,I'll skull fuck your sockets until they bleed.

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  8. Wrong skins never came from nigger culture it came from middle class british youth. Sharps and faggot niggers stole the culture and look from real skins like niggers always do, they try to steal white mans culture and claim it as their own. Fuck poser sharps and pussy niggers.

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