Skinheads are a subculture that started in the sixties and is still around today. I'm no expert on the subject and am writing this article to try and wrap my head around the phenomenon. Skinheads are basically kissing cousins with punk rockers, often the two groups are used in the same sentence. The music is very similar as well as some of the fashion. This is why I want to feel the right way about skinheads. I will start by describing my limited experience, what I've heard and my thoughts.

Recently I got in an argument with a pretty prominent member of a nearby punk community. There was a skinhead hate rally going on and I jokingly dedicated a song to "all the punk rockers dealing with their skinhead problem". He took offense to my use of the word skinhead and terminated our friendship on a social networking site. So this leaves me wondering if when referring to skinheads is it necessary to specify between good and bad skinheads?

Skinheads may have started off as a well meaning working class rights group but today many people consider them to be a violent hate group. Should they be cut slack because of their original positive intention origin? I think there was probably good philosophical theory in Nationalism and Socialism but does that mean we should be careful of condemning modern day Nazi's?

I've only ran into skinheads twice that I know of. Once was at an awesome house show on a large property in San Diego. Word spread that skinheads showed up and were beating people up so me and my friends decided to leave. The other time was at Battalion Of Saints show at The Jumping Turtle in San Marcos California(?). Skinheads were hired as security and were bullies in the pit and kicking out people for no good reason. Very bad vibe at that show.

Things I've heard about skinheads is that they never fight fair. They only attack people when the odds are in their favor. I've heard you can tell the difference between good and bad skinheads by the shoelaces they were. Red is bad and white is good. I don't know if this stuff is true or not.

The thing I wonder is are good skinheads actually good or just not destructive and evil. Once a counter culture goes bad why still take part in it? I've heard of Ku Klux Klan members who claim they don't hate Jews and black Americans but what's the point? Why not just move on with you life and be a part of something without all the negative connotations? If you can answer any of these question please contact me and let me know what's up. I really do want to understand skinhead culture.