Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SHARP (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice) are anti-racist skinheads who believe that the skinhead way of life has always been (and always should be) an international (and non-political) way of life. They recognize the multi-racial origins of the skinhead subculture and resent what they see as the hijacking of the skinhead name by racial extremists. They first appeared when far right and other political movements started associating themselves with the skinhead way of life.

SHARP was started in New York City, in 1987, as a way to show that the skinhead subculture is not based on racism and political extremism. Jason O'Toole, the vocalist for hardcore punk group Life's Blood, was among its early supporters. In 1989, Roddy Moreno (of the Welsh Oi! band The Oppressed) visited New York and met many SHARPs. On his return to the UK, he started promoting SHARP ideals to British skinheads. It then quickly spread to Germany and throughout Europe. Now there are SHARP skinheads around the world, although it's more of an individual designation than an official organization or political movement.

SHARP is officially non-political, but some SHARPs have similar beliefs to political anti-fascist skins like Redskins and Anarcho-skinheads. Due to their anti-racist ideals, some SHARPs have been involved with groups such as Anti-Fascist Action. However, this is more based on personal beliefs, as opposed to views associated directly with SHARP.

A New York chapter of SHARP split and formed RASH (Red and Anarchist Skinheads) after a group of anti-racist, but homophobic members of SHARP murdered a homosexual. The group was officially launched on 1 January 1993.