Mainstrem vs. Extreme

Mainstream versus extreme pertaining to my blog topic shows a prime example in itself. Mainstream, as defined as most would be ordinary, conventional, typical. However mainstream in the Movement to me could be better defined as underhanded, sneaky and snide. The acts of murder, or gang violence is what is seen as extreme, which don’t get me wrong: I agree, such is quite extreme. These sorts of actions as hate crimes are the extreme actions taken that would land you in prison. My blog topic has dealt with white nationalist prison gangs, in other words the “extreme”. But what about this so called mainstream? Abby Ferber states that:

"Defining white supremacy as extremist in its racism often has the result of absolving the mainstream population of its racism, portraying white supremacists as the racist fringe in contrast to some nonracist majority."

This arises a good point of what society makes white supremacists out to be. I recall in the beginning of the year when Dr. Leonard talked about how he had a typical white man come over to fix a shelf in his apartment, only to find a week or so later his face in the newspaper talking about his hatred towards all non-whites and strong white supremacist ideologies. In my personal opinion, it is the action that can be loosely defined as mainstream or extreme, however the hatred that festers within someone with this outlook on racial differences, there is no defining such as mainstream.

Pertaining to my blog topic, prison gangs and gang affiliation of white nationalists, they represent what society has deemed white nationalists in general. Most people wouldn’t assume anyone walking down the street to be a white nationalist, but having taken this course, I personally wouldn’t be surprised at all. Most people would assume that all members of the white nationalist movement are tattoo-covered, scream-o listening, camo and combat boot wearing, anarchist, rebellious Skinheads. Shown below is a few examples of what comes up on Google upon searching white supremacist. Although some members do look like this, what about the rest? Aside from that, I would say that a good majority of society also thinks that most of them are locked up. Although a solid amount of white members in prison do end up joining gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood, such is sought out for protection, fostering a hatred and simply giving it somewhere to aim.

 

This mainstream/extreme analysis is a very fine line, and can be dangerous to be quick to judge. Extreme action can be seen as physical for the most part, something that you can visibly judge someone as being an extremist. But what about those Daniels discusses in her book Cyber Racism? What about those people such as Richard Machado, emailing hate mail to 59 students simply judged by their last name? Or what about William White and the posting of the Jena 6, which lead to the harassment and beatings for 6 students because of the color of their skin? Such action may be considered mainstream to some, because they were just a person behind a computer screen, but look what it lead to. These people are capable of much more, and some who people are deeming mainstream can be just as capable.

 The Jena 6

A mainstream and extreme analysis is sometimes blatant and easy to label members. Prison gang members can typically be seen as extreme. The Aryan Brotherhood would more than likely be deemed very extreme, seeing as how they are notoriously the most violent prison gang in the federal system and their main targets tend to be because of racial differences or wrongdoings to the gang itself. It’s important to acknowledge such extreme action, but it’s far more important to not ignore those considered as mainstream. Typically they share the same fostered hatred within their minds, they support to same Movement, they can be just as dangerous.