Customer Reviews

Blood in the Face: The Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, Nazi Skinheads, and the Rise of a New White Culture

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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Not comprehensive, but informative. I'm interested in the post below by a self proclaimed neo-Nazi, who denounces the book as "uninformed." I think it's worth noting that oftentimes, those who are on the inside have a far less subjective view of a movement than a researcher does. For this reason, I think Ridgeway has provided some great insights. That said, it's certainly not comprehensive, but a very good start. That and the fact that it provides plenty of (disturbing) visuals, I highly recommend the book.

I bought this because there really are very few books on the subject at all, and even this one is only going to give you a general introduction to the matter. What I have learned so far is this: When voters fail to provide places for young people to participate in sports and dancing, they shouldn't be surprised when those same kids - their kids - wander the streets and get into trouble. On the same wavelength, when it becomes routine in the media to criticize only whites for social ills, and to dismiss the value of an ethnic heritage for young whites in forming a positive image of themselves (As it does for the minorities allowed to form a strong self-image that way), it shouldn't surprise parents and nonwhites that more and more white youths are taking an interest in the most notorious and forbidden white leaders of all time. These kids reason that they want the opposite of the powerlessness that comes from accepting a conforming silence about race. They see how it saddles their more easily frightened parents and are determined to throw it off. And young people are often quick to express their resistance when a conformity seems so obviously unfair. Just as the gang mentality grows among blacks and hispanics, expect it to grow among whites. Yes, the kids will be sorry later, as David Duke certainly was when he went into mainstream politics, but society is also suffering because these kids went searching for their ethnic heritage and found no one to learn it from except someone representing their parents' worst nightmare.

Just great! The issue is very interesting itself but apart from the pure facts I received actually more than I had needed. Manifests, pictures, people's profiles were just perfect for writing my diploma thesis: "Active Hate Groups in the USA". I guees very few of us realize the scale of racism in the USA. I just wonder if the movement can in fact take over? what's your opinion?

An excellent, detailed textbook style examination of the radical right, in all its manifestations. Of all the books I've read on the right, and I've read a few, this one is the best. Carefully crafted and scholarly, Ridgeway pulls no punches. He gives detailed explanations of the history, origins and rhetoric of the KKK, The Posse Comitatus, The American Nazi Party and many related right wing haters. He makes copious use of the rights own pamphlets and speeches to reveal their twisted belief systems, and the book is full of pictures and even includes exerts of the infamous Turner Diaries. Well written and readable the book is also a gripping page-turner and will definitely keep you interested until the end. My only gripe is with the final chapter, which is unduly alarmist. It is true that the radical right is active and that they are a danger to society, but I am not convinced by the notion that there values are more acceptable in society than they have been in the past. Was Bull Conner an outcast in his time? Is David Duke more important politically than George Wallace was? Has the KKK been able to defeat a presidential candidate in modern times the way they defeated Al Smith? I also found the suggestion that Madonna and Tom Petty of all people are spreading racist propaganda to be laughable. Further the notion that opposition to affirmative action is evidence of a racist mindset is absurd, and revealing of the authors `liberal' bias. Affirmative action is not only a racist notion, based as it is on the idea that minorities need special help to succeed, but also has given aid and comfort to the racist cause. Racists can point to Affirmative Action as proof of their own beliefs. That being said, the ideological quirks of the author do not detract from the excellence of his scholarship. As a detailed explanation of the radical right across the broad spectrum, the book is peerless. Highly recommended.

Blood in the Face is a mere inkling of what the "far right" is about and what it does. While the author does a great job at organization and use of pictures to convey his information, the reader isn't really going to get enough information. This book is just an introduction to the movement. A reader will have to do much more reading if they truly want to find out about what makes these people tick.

I strongly recommend this book to all leftists and liberals hoping to learn more about the "new white culture". Why? Because this book is perhaps the most deceptive piece of work ever written about the movement. One wonders if Ridgeway did any research whatsoever. Being a neo-Nazi skinhead, I have more than a little knowledge about how the far-right works and it seems as though this book was written more about how someone from the left thinks racists should be than how they are. If you really must know how Klansmen, Identity Christians and skinheads think, get a book straight from the source(like the Turner Diaries). Please don't rely on the left for all your information.

I seem to recall that the author of this "book" did a documentary that aired on PBS some years ago, which was not too bad. Not being able to find a video of the documentary, I looked forward to the 2nd edtion of the book. What a waste! Whoever indexed this thing must have been drunk at the time! Look up any entry in the index and almost none of the references are correct! e.g. "Swift, Wesley" refers you to pages 14, 15: but there's no mention of him on those two pages; "Rockwell, George Lincoln" refers you to page 21: no mention of Rockwell on that page, but there is a mention of Tom Metzger, whose listing in the index shows no reference to page 21!!! Beyond this, the book was written from the viewpoint of someone with the mindset of Hillary Clinton: not a very inviting alternative to individuals portrayed in the book.

This book is going to be bought by two groups of people: sympathizers to the white Nationalist movement (or one of the myriad other subgroups) and those that hate them. For those that hate them this book should get a five star rating because it is a fairly thorough overview of some, just some mind you, of the violent elements of the "far right" in the United States of America. Each movement or group is given an overview that will satisfy all the stereotypes and prejudices of those who are appalled by the concept of pride in one's race (oops...I mean pride in the White race only). This group will also love the large numbers of pictures that are sure to scare you: little kids with Nazi shirts on, lots of men in militaristic uniforms, et cetera. All your expectations will be met and you will finish the book feeling superior and informed.

The other group of people, the sympathizers to the white Nationalist movement, will be offended and should consider this a one star book. At least I hope so. This book is a lesson in how not to present yourselves, what not to do as far as publicity, and a call to weed out the thugs, idiots and crazies from your various groups. The more intelligent amongst you are well aware that there are many people who involve themselves in these types of groups because they are simply troublemakers. I am being generous by using that word. This book contains pictures and stories mostly of these people and makes the cause of White Nationalism seem anything but rational, intellectual and noble. This is pure propaganda. These are the stories and pictures that our enemies love to have exposed to the public because they know that the public will be appalled (and, without having any context, neither historical nor philosophical, one frankly cannot blame them). There is nothing to be learned here other than what not to do, as I said. Don't waste your money. Buy Imperium by Francis Parker Yockey, Revolt Against the Modern World by Julius Evola, Why Race Matters by Michael Levin or any of the many other books that can actually teach you something. This goes for you too, enemies. This book is the equivalent of the Weekly World News for Leftists. Skip it.

Ridgeway was given unprecedented access to some of the most hated and revered figures on the racist right in the preparation of this study. Of particular interest are both the flow chart that introduces the book, showing the connections between hate groups past and present and the sections on the Oklahoma City bombing.

Pathetic...how can anyone discuss the "racist right" and ignore the overwhelming hate the left has for ordinary White Christian people?

Blacks rioting and murdering for "social justice" are treated with kid gloves because.."Oh they were just addressing White racism"...PUHLEEEZE...

Folks there is something going on with the White people of America. They are hammered constantly with "diversity" aka less whites equals better...but should White people DARE to suggest that maybe just maybe White people should be allowed to have a civilization of their own WITHOUT the horrendous black, Mexican violent crime rate...then they're "racists"...

Well... get used to it, the "movement" it is getting larger and larger by the day.

Soon White people will not give the smallest damn about your name calling, it will effectively mean NOTHING...it already does to MILLIONS of White people.

This book is yet another attack on White people who have simply become fed up, they've had enough, and they are now doing something about it.

So keep ignoring the overwhelming evidence of non-white on white violence...keep using the same rhetoric to attack anyone who speak up for White people...your point is moot...and White people WILL win back the America they so dearly love.