A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by Jamaican rude boys and British mods, in terms of fashion, music and lifestyle, not politics or race.
==History==
In the late 1950s, the UK entrenched class system limited most working class people's economic opportunities. Britain's post-war economic boom led to an increase in disposable income among many young people, and some of those youths spent that income on new fashions popularised by American soul groups and British R&B bands. Early skinheads were very interested in Jamaican rude boy styles and culture and early reggae, before the lyrics became focused on topics like black nationalism.
In 1977, the skinhead subculture was revived to a notable extent after the introduction of punk rock. "Traditional skinheads", also known as trads or Trojan skinheads, identify with the original 1960s skinhead subculture in terms of music, style, culture, and working class pride. "Oi! skinheads" appeared after the development of punk rock in the 1970s.
==Politics and subgroups==
In the late 1960s, some skinheads, including "black skinheads" had engaged in violence against random immigrants. Although these early skinheads were not part of an organized racist movement, by the early 1970s there were skinheads who aligned themselves with the white nationalist National Front. However, there had also been anti-racist and leftist skinheads from the beginning.
As the 1970s progressed, the racially-motivated skinhead violence in the UK became more partisan. Although many skinheads rejected political labels, some skinheads blamed immigrants for economic and social problems, and agreed with far right organizations' positions against blacks and Asians. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, many skinheads in the UK rejected the dogma of both the left and right. This anti-extremist attitude was musically typified by Oi! bands.
=Apolitical skinheads - SHARP=
Other skinheads countered the neo-Nazi stereotype by forming anti-racist organizations, such as "Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP)" who started in 1986. SHARPS are aggressively opposed to neo-Nazism and racism, although they are not always political in terms of other issues. The label SHARP is sometimes used to describe all anti-racist skinheads.
=Left-wing skinheads - RASH=
"Redskins and anarchist skinheads" are left wing skinheads who take a militant anti-fascist and pro-working class stance. The most well-known skinhead organization in this category is Red and Anarchist Skinheads. In the UK, some anti-fascist skinheads have been involved with Anti-Fascist Action or Red Action.
=Right-wing skinheads=
Right wing skinheads who are conservative and patriotic, but not necessarily extreme or fascist...