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The Racist Mind: Portraits of American Neo-Nazis and Klansmenx$8.98
  (5 reviews)
Best Price: $8.98
The Oklahoma City bombing turned a new spotlight on the secret world and chilling ideology of the American radical right, but swastika armbands and the scream of racial slogans have been making news for decades. Who are these people so full of venom? Where do their fears come from? Are they dangerous, pitiably pathetic, or both? In this neglected area of of inquiry Professor Raphael S. Ezekiel, who grew up Jewish in segregated East Texas, probes for answers out in the field.
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Customer Reviews
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A Waste of Time
By A2V3P1XE33NYC3 on 2000-12-28
Raphael "Rafe" Ezekiel wrote this book as a result of his numerous field studies on hate groups and their members. What promises to be an interesting look inside the so-called "far right" ends up being a pretty dull look at a group of punks that try and pass themselves as Nazis.The book is divided into three sections. The first section is Ezekiel's reactions to his attending several high profile meetings of racial organizations. The first meeting is a KKK rally at Stone Mountain, Georgia. The other meeting is one of the congregations held by the now defunct Aryan Nations in Idaho. He also attended the sedition trial at Fort Smith, Arkansas. All we get from these events is a bunch of psycho babble from "Rafe" about how he feels about interviewing a bunch of racists. He makes sure to talk to the wackiest people he can find, and then make blanket statements about everybody involved as a whole. The second part of the book consists of interviews with national leaders in the Movement, such as Tom Metzger of WAR, and Richard Butler of Aryan Nations. The last part of the book, and by far the largest part, deals with a gang of whites that have taken the name "Death's Head Strike Group", who are located in Detroit. Rafe (I'm not being snide when I refer to him as Rafe. Several people in the book refer to him by this nickname) makes much of his Jewish heritage and how it is constantly insulted by these people. They're racists! Of course a Jew would be offended! I would be too if I were a Jew. You'd think someone of Jewish background would be aware of this before they started. But the point of writing a work like this is to try and present an unbiased account of the subject matter. This topic is by its very nature heated, and strong words have been written on both sides of the fence. This reader wasn't looking for another polemic. I was hoping for some real insights. Instead I get hurt feelings and some really wacked out testimony by sixteen year old high school dropouts on what it means to be a Nazi. At least the interviews of the leaders were worth reading. Especially Tom Metzger, who comes off as pretty intelligent, although somewhat cynical. Ezekiel should be careful about passing off everyone in the National Socialist Movement as some idiot that can't even spell his name. With the advent of the Internet, there are young, wealthy and intelligent people that are quickly becoming adherents. I remember seeing a news program about Matt Hale, the head of the World Church of the Creator (and a law school graduate) working with another young college grad in his office. They were both listening to Mozart while they prepared flyers. This is the new face of the Movement, not what is presented here by Mr. Ezekiel. Read this book for the three interviews with the national leaders and skip the rest. This book could have been a lot better. Instead, all we get is pap.
Interesting, enlightening and well written.
By A1PH6BLZYTL5BC on 1999-10-06
This is among the most engaging books I have ever read. What courage Mr. Ezekiel demonstrated in gathering this important information about racists individuals and groups. His respect for those whose words, feeling and attitudes were dispicable and focused directly on his own people was remarkable. The book shed light on what motivates hate and related violence from racists. As an African American who grew up in the south prior to civil rights legislation, I have always been baffled by the intensity of hate these people feel toward African Americans and the violence directed to us. This is an informing book that should be read by anyone seeking to understand and address the issue of intolerance. After reading the Racist Mind, I am more convinced of the need for our country to make sure everyone. black and white, have an opportunity to be educated and empowered to participate in what this country has to offer. It shows the dangerous impact of ignorance.
a very pursuasive and passionate window onto a dark world.
By A3HVAWL555LRSP on 1999-05-17
This book resonates. By painting intimate portraits of several insiders we are allowed an unprecedented proximity to this closed world. The author is careful never to judge his subjects thus confirming his own credibility. It is one of the most noteable books I have ever read and it has left it's indelible mark on me even 2 years after reading it. Bravo.
Interesting.
By A1ECL7UT6GMNLZ on 2003-05-29
I have known in the past several of the people Mr. Ezekiel spent time on for his book, and despite his tireless (and increasingly annoying) left-wing babble, he paints a fairly accurate picture of the modern "racialism" movement as the unemployable, the troubled, the hopeless... the lost.
Too Subjective
By A3UTJ4IQ5FEAG9 on 2007-03-14
When I first picked up this book, I was hoping for more of an objective look, via interviews, at what kind of person the far-right "white power" movement attracts, and also why they are attracted to the movement. Unfortunately, while Ezekiel does provide some of that insight, it is too often tainted by his own opinions. He goes to great lengths to disparage these people and the movement. While I don't condone the movement at all, I was hoping for more of an objective look at it.
Various techniques used by Ezekiel include responding to the arguments and comments of the interviewee within the context of the book. For instance, they will make some remark about Jews always feeling sorry for themselves. Rather than respond in the interview, Ezekiel will add his rebuttal into the book itself, after the interview, thereby denying the chance for the person to respond. Also, using the same example, Ezekiel will criticize a member for their stereotypical remarks, and then include a line in the book to the effect of, "I don't think Jews feel sorry for themselves. I think we actually are very empathetic." In both his use of the word, "we", and attributing empathy to all Jewish people, he is doing exactly what the interviewee did---namely, attributing one characteristic to an entire group of people. But because it's a compliment and Ezekiel is Jewish, he feels that it's alright that he speak for an entire people.
I felt some of the book was worthwhile, especially his look at the background of the people that he interviewed, allowing for a better look at what may be the draw for these people to the movement. But due to the various flaws I mentioned above, I don't feel that the book wasn't so much a portrait of the racist mind, but a subjective look at people who I couldn't help but feel Ezekiel set up in order to arrive at his preconceived notions.
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