Thursday, December 15, 2011

My Choice

For my choice of a blog i just decided to give you the entire series of the second set of videos i started showing in my later blogs. They are straight form YouTube but hosted by the show called Lockdown on National Geographic. There's 5 parts to the video. I will also post an additional one that i found interesting.

Part 1/5:



Part 2/5:



Part 3/5:



Part 4/5:



Part 5/5:



Additional Video:

American History X vs. The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead




             Between the movie: American History X and the book: The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, the only real differences are the characters. After studying in my cultural ethnic studies class about white power movements, I’ve learned that the values of true skinhead cultures are fervent and reoccurring in all white nationalist groups and gangs. White power is the goal derived from old ideologies of the German Nazis from Adolf Hitler’s days. They all believe that Whites are special and deserve the privilege to rule the world and have every other “incompetent” race at their disposal to do what they please.

            More importantly, the recruitment process is EXACTLY the same. The brainwash tactic is such a handy tool for those older believers in white supremacy because the mind controls everything. If you can successfully convey an evil message to a young, misguided, lost in life “soldier” as being the “right thing to do/believe”, their whole world becomes altered. These are the people that are targeted. In American History X, the main character Derek Vinyard, loses his father because of a murder that happened to be by black guys. From there on, he blamed minorities for every problem that the WORLD was having, including HIV/AIDs. While he’s down and feeling like a lost cause at his lowest, he is recruited to become a skinhead and share the beliefs of people who agree that all other races are the root of all evil. He becomes engulfed so deep into the ideology that he serves the best and becomes a high-ranking official.
            Frank Meenink, the main character in The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, has a similar story. He didn’t have his father killed but still grew up troubled in a broken home. His mother was a drug addict and his stepfather was extremely abusive. He never felt comfortable or safe at home and was always in search of an escape. However, he couldn’t find that at school either because it was just as bad as being at home. Feeling alienated, the white supremacist nation took an interest in a blank mind that could easily be reformed to believe what they believe. What both these stories also have in common is the startling realization that other races are people just like whites. It takes a rude awakening along with a simple interaction for both these misguided young men to realize this and they learn that its never too late to change. The unfortunate part is that most white supremacists do not believe this and live the rest of their lives on this rugged path. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Personal Connection

Personal Connection
            When I started to research this topic, I became engulfed in it head first and all of the videos were interesting from start to finish. Different documentaries showed different members who had left the gang for one reason or another and decided to testify or tell all that goes on inside of the organization.  The video below is one that I came across that is the start of a 5-part History Channel special. In this video, it showed, where the AB started, and what states it spread to.  One of the highlighted states was Virginia, which is my hometown. Seeing the ruthlessness of this gang, it made me question the safety of my cousin who is currently incarcerated and serving time in a Virginia penitentiary. His details will remain anonymous for his own safety.
            But knowing how the Aryan Brotherhood operates in such violent manners but yet in such secrecy, in the back of my mind there is paranoia that he will not make it out safely. In the San Quentin Penitentiary, the Aryan Brotherhood makes up less than 0.01 percent of the population. However, they are responsible for over 20 percent of all the murders that take place. These numbers are outrageous and only makes the mind wander more of how things go down in the other prison facilities. Aryan members are even responsible for killing guards. There is no person or official who is safe in the prison system. 





Aryan Nations on Verge of Collapse Following Judgment | Southern Poverty Law Center

Aryan Power

The collapse of the Aryan nation is on the brink of happening as the Southern Poverty Law Center brings a major scandal to the light of the public. The Aryan Compound is located in Hayden, Idaho and serves as the headquarters for the leader and the highest ranked officials in the Brotherhood. The 20 acre compound and all its glory was raided and suspects were apprehended from the grounds around them that they once terrorized, for the armed attack of a woman and her son.

Here is an article that explains the whole case in depth:



Aryan Nations on Verge of Collapse Following Judgment | Southern Poverty Law Center

Cyber Racism In Prison

Cyber Racism In Prison

            Cyber racism in prison seems like it would be an impossible thing to happen because in most prisons, inmates don’t have computers, let alone Internet access. It may seem impossible because it almost is, but that’s also depending on the way you choose to look at things. Although its not cyber it holds many of the same qualities. The Aryan Brotherhood thrives on having these skills of communication.
            When I say communication it comes in double meaning for the inmates. They have different means of conveying simple messages within the prison system to each other that guards rarely ever catch. This is the key to their secret existence. They pass messages by using string and weighted bags with either sand or small rocks. They will then proceed to slide them at an angle to get them to the next cell when guards aren’t looking. This is just one of the hundreds of ways inmates make illegal exchanges in the cells, on the yard, etc. In the messages they send, to anyone besides the members of the Aryan Brotherhood members may look like a letter of wellbeing or maybe a casual update on the writer’s life status. Looking closer into the letter and deciphering its codes, one will find hidden instructions linked to the next crime. It can be anything from the passing of drugs to the next target to be killed behind the prison walls, or even outside the prison walls.
            These hidden messages if thought about, are a lot like having a cloaked website. Only those interested in the facts of the cloaked website or those who know about it are most likely the only ones who are going to be able to obtain its information. It is also a lot like the old days before white nationalism took flight to the Internet when everything was on paper and flyers passed out.


Check out this video and see how the messages are hidden in a regular letter:








Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Bobby Adams

Bobby Adams
            Bobby Adams is a founding member of the ABT or the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. At 54 years old he originally went to prison for armed robbery. He got into prison and became one of the founding members of the prison chapter of the ABT. Because of the gang activity taking place behind bars involving the ABT’s assaults and murders, Bobby Adams who’s known as B.A. is serving a life sentence. Growing up, B.A. came from a poor family and living style, was rebellious early on, and was attracted to the crime life. The ABT would be a perfect fit for young B.A. and his bad habits were exploited and flourished as a member of the gang.
            “Obviously by virtue of my rank, I’ve been involved in just about everything,” says B.A. in an interview with Gangland camera crews. The ABT prided itself on anonymity early on and B.A. was one of the best at keeping a low profile. Being one of the best at handling jobs without being caught is what caused him to be one of the highest ranked soldiers in the ABT. As the time went on and B.A. got older, the values of the gang as a whole changed. “The younger generation is just too strung out,” says B.A. “They are all about being flashy and yelling things around and it didn’t used to be that way. We used to take care of our business and we didn’t have to say anything because we knew who we were and that was enough but not anymore.” There is no order to the chaos going on outside the prison walls and even inside the walls of that Texas penitentiary inhabited by the ABT. With a huge portion of the Dallas chapter apprehended, two of which being young generals, there is just a bunch of soldiers running around on the outside with no guidance and doing things to advance their rank.
            B.A. at the age of 54 is so disgusted with what the gang has become, he sees no reason to stay in the gang. Knowing a that he would have no shot at parole if he continues to claim the gang, he made the decision to drop it because it isn’t what it used to be. “I mean, had it been like it was before, I would have no problem staying in the gang even if I had to die in here. But since it’s not, I don’t see the point in it anymore. And more than half of them are telling on each other.” This is definitely not seen as normal because usually the only way out of the gang is to be killed which is known as being X’ed.