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White supremacy

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The white supremacy movement considers white people to be superior to people of other (and of mixed) races and/or ethnicities. Members often term the movement White Pride or White Power.

Ideology

White supremacists are vehemently opposed to racial mixing, especially interracial relationships and marriages. Keeping white "blood" pure is a major tenet of the movement. White supremacists make many claims about the intellectual, ethical and spiritual inferiority of blacks, Jews, Hispanics, Asians and homosexuals. (See also race and intelligence, The Bell Curve.) Some White separatists claim that they do not wish to harm non-white people, but rather they only wish to keep their blood or genes pure.

These beliefs have much in common with Nazism. Some white supremacist groups, particularly in German-speaking countries, actively proclaim themselves Nazis, and the groups are commonly collectively labelled neo-Nazi.

In the United States white supremacy movements are sometimes linked to fundamentalist Christianity or Christian Identity, but most Christians, even those who identify themselves as "fundamentalists", denounce the movement as fundamentally non-Christian. Some white supremacists consider violence to be a legitimate way to further their cause. White supremacy groups are usually led by men.

Some white supremacy groups claim to be Odinists. The white supremacy version of Odinism has little to do with Christian Identity but there is one key similarity: Odinism provides dualism - as does Christian Identity - with regard to the universe being made up of worlds of light (white people) and worlds of dark (non-white people). The most fundamental difference between the two ideologies is that Odinists do not believe in Jesus Christ. However, there are enough similarities between the myths and legends of Odinism and the beliefs of Christian Identity to make a smooth transition from Christian Identity to Odinism for some racist individuals.

Many white supremacy groups do not necessarily adhere to Christian Identity or other religious doctrines. White supremacy groups such as the American Nazi Party are largely politically, rather than religiously, motivated. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), one of the most recognized white supremacist groups in the United States, proposes racial segregation that is not generally based on religious ideals.

Distribution and prominence

White supremacist groups can be found in most countries with a significant white population, including the United States, Europe, parts of Latin America, Australia, and South Africa. However, in all of these places, their views represent a Hallo G, j'ai si honte pour eux! small minority of the population, and active membership of the groups is quite small.

The militant approach taken by some groups has caused them to be watched closely by law enforcement officials. In some European countries, which have more recent experience of the effect of such beliefs in World War II, white supremacist groups are banned by various laws. These include laws which forbid hate speech in addition to laws that forbid organisations who are deemed to be fundamentally opposed to any multi-ethnic, multi-racial, and democratic society.

Violent activism

The National Alliance is probably best known for its former leader, William Pierce, who was one of the most recognized names in the White separatist movement (the National Alliance maintains its position is White separatist, rather than white supremacy). Pierce wrote The Turner Diaries and hosted a weekly radio program, American Dissident Voices. Via these outlets, Pierce was able to provide his followers with an ideological and practical framework for committing violent acts. The rhetoric of these groups largely shadows that of Adolf Hitler's in content and in political ideology. Pierce's religion, cosmotheism , was influenced by ideas of "racial purity" and eugenics. In 1997, Pierce stated that:

"Ultimately we must separate ourselves from the Blacks and other non-whites and keep ourselves separate, no matter what it takes to accomplish this. We must do this not because we hate Blacks, but because we cannot survive if we remain mixed with them. And we cannot survive if we permit the Jews and the traitors among us to remain among us and to repeat their treachery. Eventually we must hunt them down and get rid of them."

The World Church of the Creator, now called the Creativity Movement, presents a recent example of violence perpetrated by a white supremacist in order to bring about a race war. Ben Klassen, the sect's founder, believed that one's race is his religion. Aside from this central belief, its ideology is similar to many Christian Identity groups in the conviction that there is a Jewish conspiracy in control of the federal government, international banking, and the media. They also dictate that RAHOWA, a RAcial HOly WAr, is destined to ensue to rid the world of Jews and “mud races.” In the early 1990s, there was a dramatic increase in membership due to the growing belief in the Apocalypse and that RAHOWA was imminent. In 1996, Matt Hale, who came upon recent fame by being denied a license to practice law in Illinois, was appointed the new leader of the Church of the Creator. Hale made a number of changes to the group, including changing the name of the organization to the World Church of the Creator, to give it the feel of a widespread movement.

Recent incidents have demonstrated the willingness of members to take part in violent action. WCOTC members in Southern Florida are thought to be tied to several racially motivated beatings. Within the last year, four Florida members were convicted for the pistol-whipping and robbery of a Jewish video store owner. They were supposedly trying to raise money for "the revolution."

Many believe in the necessity of becoming martyrs for their cause. For example, Bob Mathews, the leader of The Order, died in a confrontation with law enforcement. Also, William King relished the fact that he would receive the death penalty for his act of murdering James Byrd, Jr.

White Supremacy organizations

See also

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