Blood and Politics
 | |
| Author | Leonard Zeskind |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | History of White Nationalism in the United States of America |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
Publication date | May 12, 2009 |
| Publication place | United States of America |
| ISBN | 0-374-10903-6 |
| OCLC | 243544894 |
| Website | us |
Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream is a book by Leonard Zeskind.
Background
[edit]The book traces the evolution of white supremacist groups from the mid-1970s onward, highlighting their internal divisions and lack of cohesion. Zeskind focuses on the ongoing rift between “mainstreamers,” who moderate their rhetoric to gain broader acceptance, and hardline “vanguardists,” who maintain a separatist, militant stance.[1]
The book discusses figures such as David Duke, Bo Gritz, Pat Robertson, and Willis Carto as well as various movements such as the Christian Identity Movement and the white power skinheads,[2] specifically focuses on Willis Carto, William Luther Pierce, and David Duke.[3]
Reception
[edit]Reviewers considered the book to be one of the most comprehensive and well-researched histories of American white nationalism.[2][4] For instance, Publishers Weekly called the book a "rigorously researched and eloquent book" that has the "breadth of an encyclopedia."[3] However, the scope of the book was so wide and the contents so exhaustive that critics believed the book was repetitive and unfocused.[5]
Art Winslow wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Zeskind's detailed, chronological narrative revealed not only the violence linked to white supremacist groups but also the troubling endurance of their ideologies. Despite legal, social, and political opposition, "vanguardists" have preserved and propagated the core beliefs of national socialism, offering a persistent foundation for future extremist activity.[1] Dave Gilson criticized the book for not making a greater distinction between white Republicans and politically fringe figures and Chris Barsanti said that Zeskind's "style can be tendentious" but that "the weight of his scholarship ... is undeniably impressive."[6][7] Another reviewer questioned whether the subjects discussed in the book were "steering the U.S. toward extended racial strife."[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Winslow, Art (June 14, 2009). "'Blood and Politics' by Leonard Zeskind". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. OCLC 3638237. ProQuest 422294953. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement From the Margins to the Mainstream". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. May 20, 2010. ISSN 1948-7428. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement From the Margins to the Mainstream". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. February 2, 2009. ISSN 0000-0019. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ "Fringe Politics: Hate and Extremism | Collection Development". Library Journal. Media Source Inc. May 3, 2013. ISSN 0363-0277. OCLC 818916619. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ Apter, Simon Maxwell (June 22, 2009). "Book Reviews: History of 'White Power' Shows Hate is Hard Work". NPR. National Public Radio, Inc. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ Gilson, Dave (May 1, 2009). "Books: Blood and Politics—Leonard Zeskind Explains the History of the White Nationalist Movement From the Margins to the Mainstream". Mother Jones. Foundation for National Progress. ISSN 0362-8841. ProQuest 213805462. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ Barsanti, Chris (January 21, 2010). "The Best of Books 2009: Non-Fiction, PopMatters". PopMatters. PopMatters Media. OCLC 1122752384. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ Tribby, Mike (May 15, 2009). "Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream". The Booklist. 105 (18). Chicago: 8. ProQuest 235588956.