Belonging: The Attraction of Hate Groups

Prior to 1990, hate crimes were placed in the same category as regular violent crimes. More recently, the Federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act put these crimes into their own category (Feaster, 1998). By creating this separate category, increased penalties could be added when a crime is driven by hate. Hate groups are created by people coming together with a common ground of hatred for a particular race or group of people (Feaster, 1998). The people who run these hate groups have to actively recruit new members to make sure their legacy lives on. The best place to find fresh faces for their hate communities is in the youth of the time.

Since music is often an important part of the lives of young people, hate groups have begun using rock concerts as recruiting grounds (Ponlosky, 1999). The rock bands which the hate groups aim for preach words about the alienation they feel in society, attracting many teenagers who feel the same alienation. The problem with this is that the teenagers actually become attracted to the bands message of hate they preach for the society that brushes them into the corners (Ponlosky, 1999).

Many teenagers also go through a phase of hopelessness, when they are confused about the world and their place in it (Feaster, 1998). Hate groups take advantage of this by offering an ear to listen when they feel like no one else will hear them. One former spokesman for the Aryan Nation explains that often he would sit down with a young person, drink a beer, listen to their problems and then give them advice. This makes the youth feel appreciated by this group of people (Polonsky, 1999). In a struggle to prove they are valuable people, the hate groups help teens thru this rite of passage. They give them responsibilities and duties which when completed, makes the teen feel like they are needed for this group to survive thus giving them a purpose in life (Polonsky, 1999).

Additionally, young people who grow up with racist beliefs in their family and a history of violence are more apt to join a hate group. Often, these young people will have a paranoia about non-white or minority groups. They will be seen with a need to blame someone else, often minority groups for problems of the world. The youths are often associated in some manner with an extreme religion that call themselves Christian, but instead they actually promote Neo Nazi beliefs, which are not compatible with Christianity. The easiest way to get involved for these teens though, is when their families are involved (Feaster, 1998).

There are ways to respond to hate groups which may help to break the cycle of youths joining them. Knowledge is power: The best way to make a difference is to keep informed about developments with hate groups in your own community, and speak out about what you know and what you see. When hate groups are ignored by a community as a whole, there is an impression they don't care. Silence is often seen as an invitation to hate groups. It is important to involve a wide variety of people, so the hate groups feel more unwelcome. Assisting victims is another way to show that the problem is not being ignored. Recruit people into anti-hate groups so they are not recruited into hate groups. By offering meaningful alternatives, participation in hate groups can be discouraged. (Responding to Hate Groups).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Feaster, Dan (1998) Hate Crimes, an American Tragedy http://www.ecla.org/youth/helpsheets/hatecrimes.html

Ponlosky, Sarah (1999) Why Do Young People Join Hate Groups http://www.personal.psu.edu/j/g/jgp4/teach/497/hategroups.htm

Responding to Hate Crimes http://www.publiceye.org/eyes/10_far.html