American Swastika

by Pete Simi, Robert Futrell

American Swastika provides an up-to-date perspective on the white power movement in America. The book takes readers through hidden enclaves of hate, exploring how white supremacy movements thrive nationwide and how we can work to prevent future violence. Filled with powerful case studies, interviews, and first-person accounts, the book explains the differences between various hate groups, then shows how white supremacy groups cultivate their membership through Aryan homes, parties, rituals, music festivals, and online propaganda. American Swastika is essential reading for understanding both how hate builds and how we can work to prevent violence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Politics, Race, History, School, Psychology

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[SHUiZMZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short book is a great introduction to learning about white power gangs, organizations, and hate groups, but as it is so short it just barely scratches the surface. It was an informative read, not too old to find all the information outdated or irrelevant, and served to try to understand how racism is cultivated and introduced into whole hate-families.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Swastika is an excellent book. The methodology of blending in an ethnography with analysis enhances the work. The authors withhold judgement and present a clear representation of the world of modern American racism, raising important questions the reader must consider. It is a quick read and I recommend it highly.

[Tara Duong · Rating 3 out of 5]

was a little too sympathetic to nazis but very interesting

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but needs to be read with a pinch of salt.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book when it was a new release in 2010 and for whatever reason did not read it until just now. I see there was a new edition in 2015 with a different page count for the same media type, so would gamble there were updates.

The book is definitely worth a read if you're seeking some insight on how proponents of the white power movement congregate. (i.e. Where they feel safe, what their homes and private celebrations may be like, etc.) It's not rocket science to guess at what the goings on may be. Pete Simi researched this area over a 10 year time period, though, so his first hand experience gathering the material provides a great opportunity for readers.

From the Appendix: Making Contact and Developing Rapport

One of the most asked questions about the research in American Swastika is how we made contact with Aryans and collected our data. Pete Simi performed the participant observations and interviews that we draw upon in the book. Pete first made contact in 1997 with the Southwest Aryan Separatists (SWAS) using a simple letter of introduction that identified him as a sociologist researching subcultures. Pete gained entrée to Aryan Nations via a series of phone calls requesting to visit and observe their gatherings. Aryan Nations granted access on one condition - that Pete was white. Contacts with other Aryans snowballed from there, producing the broad sample from which we draw in the book.

The book is part of a Violence Protection and Policy Series, and I have added multiple others in the series to my TBR.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realized after reading Hitler’s Holy Relics that despite a major in politics and a law degree – both of which required classes on history, political and legal theory, and race relations – I know nothing about white power other than a few general facts and that it’s bad. I decided this ignorance represents a shortcoming in my education so I’m now trying to remedy that, although reading about the white power movement is a disturbing undertaking. I started with this book (mostly because it was recently published and is short). For a beginner, it’s a good place to start. It’s a peek into a very dark part of America, and I’d recommend not reading it for long stretches or shortly before going to bed. The authors spent a lot of time researching and forming connections with the men and women inside the white power movement, but the book does not live up to the amount of effort put into the research. Much as I did in this review, the authors are quick to always point out that the people they are studying are bad and evil – not something I want to dispute, but it bugged me because I felt like it interfered with their analysis. Yes, white power beliefs are disturbing, but why? What struck me most is how similar the white power movement is to any other community within American life – like Christianity, they use music as a recruiting tool. Like gaming fans, they use the Internet as a place to congregate and connect. Noticing these similarities was, for me, the most chilling part of the book – yet the authors made it sound like what the white power movement is doing is somehow unique. For a book that draws heavily from sociology, it bugged me that the authors seemed so cut off from mainstream American culture. It’s a good starting point and it does offer good first-hand accounts, but it’s otherwise too thin on deep analysis to be of much use. Recommended.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was published in 2014/2015, and was one of the earliest available resources for me regarding Trump fascists. I finally read it. I read it because an acquaintance asked a friend for recommendations about what fascist praxis is so I can figure out if I'm around recruiters etc

This book assumes the cops are anti-nazi, which they are now openly supportive of. It made recommendation of allowing fascists to gathers in order to reduce the amount of people who resort to mass violence due to being able to have ghose spaces as a methos for expressing their support for genocide. Frankly, this sounds disgusting because they have more access to public platforms than they did back in 1997-2004.

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This is a book that revealed a lot to me. A lot of the ethnology research is from 1997-2004, and the follow up is like lawsuits & webstores.

I was reading this in combination with "sisters in hate" & stuff i can find like "the congressional jan 6 report" whether footage/evidence or stuff from Southern Poverty Law Center. Also that investigation that shut down in 2009/2011 by the GOP looking into KKK types. Leaked evidence of fascists plotting propaganda campaigns.

Basically I'm trying to find out how fascists do their shit because safety precautions.

I'm also wanting to investigate hurricane katrina because there was a lot of books from that era I wanted to read but I was 10 & had crappy reading skills & tech.

[Tom Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well done investigation into the American white power movement. I found it to be informative from both historical and current perspectives. What made it really interesting were the case study segments taken from the author’s time living with members of the movement. I felt these offered the most insight into the mentality of a modern white supremacist. Though it’s short it felt fairly comprehensive. The author maintains an objective tone and the writing is not overly academic. Would recommend to anyone interested in the topic.

[C Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive. Disturbing. Informative. Ethnographic survey of the white power movement and culture, focusing on both the face-to-face environments (in private homes, hate parties, and local white power music scenes) and the national/international virtual spaces, and private Aryan communities that provide an "infrastructure of hate." Published in 2015 so it doesn't include the most recent increases in the movement.

[David Chabot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book is interesting in term of first hand observations, it's not the best for a casual reader. The whole thing feels like a Ph.D thesis more than anything and can feel heavy and redundant at times. Its short length make it a safe bet for those looking for a glimpse at White Supremacists in America.

[John Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

Written in 2009, published 2010 at the start of the Obama presidencies. So, quite a bit of updating to do I guess. A very interesting read, well written and balanced. Useful to know more about the various movements, their relationships with each other and the influence of their leaders. Quite a bit on the white power music scene.
The glossary is handy.

[Christina LaPalm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right from the beginning I was taken off guard by the extreme racism that still persists in the USA under everyone’s noses. It was well-written and informative but at the same time it made me feel sick and disgusted with the entire Aryan movement.

[Katie Nuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read, horrifying look into America's white power hate groups.

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disturbing, but informative book into the psyche and lifestyle of white supremacist groups.

[Gregory Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative read. Gives an interesting take on white power and the people who exemplify it.

[Grace Schillmaier]

listen i had to read this whole book for class in a week, therefore it is going on the goodreads

[Arjun]

Bookmark...
Chapter 1

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read that made my heart hurt. A clinical approach to describing the spaces occupied by the white nationalism movement, which somehow made the reading all the more difficult. Gives extensive background into the white power movement in the 90s and early 2000s, an important primer in understanding the processes behind how people get sucked into this ideology.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, easy to read look inside the white power movement in the United States. Simi spent years in close contact with these hate groups, attending conferences, parties and concerts. His amazing access is a boon to anyone who wants to understand better the basic history and relationship of these groups, how they socialize their children, how they maintain contact and group identity through music, shows, campouts, and the internet. Disturbing to the last I would have appreciate more specific information about the size of these groups and other sociological factors, though Simi does lay out their violent activities as a parting thought.

[Shamarra Leacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this novel for a course I was taking on Sociology of Violence and was a surprising quick read. Not my typical novel but the writer definitely did his research and did an amazing job of representing the modernization of White Power groups and their ideology. This book etches questions within us as we read along that us as individuals in a changing society must definitely take into consideration.

[Micah · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Swastika is a great introduction into the world of white supremacist organizing. While it lacks theoretical or historical analysis (which wasn't the point of the book) it does a great job of laying out the basics of white power culture and organizing while telling a story. Those concerned by the rise of fascist sentiments in the US and Europe will benefit from getting a good, straightforward, glimpse into that world.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. The writing was clear as a bell. Some of this was difficult to get through, the sections graphically describing violent acts and abuse of children kept me up at night. I don't think I'd been that upset from reading a book before. I can't imagine how difficult the case studies and interviews for this book were.
Gave me the shivers.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a detailed, insightful look into the white power movement and should be read and discussed in every high school. It illuminates all of the tricks and tools used by white supremacists online and offline. It might serve as a sort of wake-up call for those falling into the fallacious, anti-scientific trappings of "race realism" and prejudicial hate.

[Kim Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to understand those in the white power movement? Want to be able to identify them to avoid the hate? This book can help. This book is interesting and powerful. As it explains hate, it intensified my desire to love others. We must be better than those who commit terrorism.

[Michael Ruddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost purely anecdotal evidence when I was hoping for sociological data. Really easy and interesting read though

[Curtis Chamblee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow you will understand what’s happening today by reading this book. I’m taking a class with Dr Futrell and Wow just Wow

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a quick read, but still a good overview of details concerning American Aryans. Simi and Futrell cover a short history of the WPM, the different ideologies that are apart of it, and how Aryans use hate as a way to connect and form communities. A great book to start with if you want to learn more about American Aryans.