[Michael-B20634]

Although the use of the word ‘skinhead’ has become associated with xenophobic (and frequently neo-Nazi) radicals, not all skinheads are alike. As I understand it, skinheads are a group evolved largely out of the punk rock revolution of the late 1970s, and, to a certain extent, the ‘working class culture’ that your aquaintance mentioned. However, skinheads do categorize themselves, and it’s fair to say that there are both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ skinheads. Indeed, there is a well-publicized group of ‘straight edge’ skinheads who generally believe in abstinence from drug use, excessive alcohol and (for some) casual sex. They also generally are strong advocates of improved race relations, which is also in line with the overlap and free exchange that existed between the punk and reggae/rastafarian cultures in the late 1970s and early 1980s. (Mainstream musical examples of the result of these hybrids include The Police and Blondie. Many hardcore punk groups still regularly cover reggae songs, notably the group Bad Brains.) I don’t know if this is still the case, but in the ’80s (at least in some geographic areas)skinheads even differentiated themselves by the color of laces they wore in their boots. I should say that I am not and have never been a skinhead. Nor am I saying that your aquaintance is a ‘good’ skinhead. But skinheads can come in different flavors, and the word ‘skinhead’ alone does not necessarily mean evil things, at least to other skinheads.

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Name : Michael-B20634, Gender : M, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, 

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