Romantic violence : memoirs of an American skinhead

At 14 years old, Christian Picciolini, a bright and well-loved child from a good family, had been targeted and trained to spread a violent racist agenda, quickly ascending to a highly visible leadership position in America’s first neo-Nazi skinhead gang. Just how did this young boy from the suburbs of Chicago, who had so much going for him, become so lost in extremist ideologies that would horrify any decent person? __Romantic Violence: Memoirs of an American Skinhead__ is a poignant and gripping cautionary tale that details Christian’s indoctrination when he was barely a teen, a lonely outsider who, more than anything, just wanted to belong. A fateful meeting with a charismatic man who recognized and took advantage of Christian’s deep need for connection sent the next decade of his life into a dangerous spiral. When his mentor went to prison for a vicious hate crime, Christian stepped forward, and at 18, he was overseeing the most brutal extremist skinhead cells across the country. From fierce street brawls to drunken white power rallies, recruitment by foreign terrorist dictators to riotous white power rock music, Picciolini immersed himself in racist skinhead culture, hateful propaganda, and violence. Ultimately Christian began to see that his hate-filled life was built on lies. After years of battling the monster he created, he was able to reinvent himself. Picciolini went on to become an advocate for peace, inclusion, and racial diversity, co-founding the nonprofit Life After Hate, which helps people disengage from hate groups and to love themselves and accept others, regardless of skin color, religious belief, or sexual preference. At 14 years old, Christian Picciolini, a bright and well-loved child from a good family, had been targeted and trained to spread a violent racist agenda, quickly ascending to a highly visible leadership position in America’s first neo-Nazi skinhead gang. Just how did this young boy from the suburbs of Chicago, who had so much going for him, become so lost in extremist ideologies that would horrify any decent person? Romantic Violence: Memoirs of an American Skinhead is a poignant and gripping cautionary tale that details Christian’s indoctrination when he was barely a teen, a lonely outsider who, more than anything, just wanted to belong. A fateful meeting with a charismatic man who recognized and took advantage of Christian’s deep need for connection sent the next decade of his life into a dangerous spiral. When his mentor went to prison for a vicious hate crime, Christian stepped forward, and at 18, he was overseeing the most brutal extremist skinhead cells across the country. From fierce street brawls to drunken white power rallies, recruitment by foreign terrorist dictators to riotous white power rock music, Picciolini immersed himself in racist skinhead culture, hateful propaganda, and violence. Ultimately Christian began to see that his hate-filled life was built on lies. After years of battling the monster he created, he was able to reinvent himself. Picciolini went on to become an advocate for peace, inclusion, and racial diversity, co-founding the nonprofit Life After Hate, which helps people disengage from hate groups and to love themselves and accept others, regardless of skin color, religious belief, or sexual preference. Table of Contents 12 Foreword by Joan Jett 16 Introduction 22 Chapter 1—Rights of the Abused 29 Chapter 2—Cold 38 Chapter 3—Hail Victory 55 Chapter 4—White Power 73 Chapter 5—Skinhead Pride 92 Chapter 6—Fourteen Words 107 Chapter 7—Allegiance 119 Chapter 8—White Revolution 140 Chapter 9—Hear the Call 150 Chapter 10—White Pride 157 Chapter 11—Odin’s Court 174 Chapter 12—White American Youth 186 Chapter 13—Vanguard 200 Chapter 14—Go Away 219 Chapter 15—Police Oppression 228 Chapter 16—Martyr 237 Chapter 17—Happy Death 253 Chapter 18—Victory March 264 Chapter 19—Open Your Eyes 282 Chapter 20—AmeriKKKa For Me 299 Chapter 21—Final Solution 317 Chapter 22—Organized Chaos 331 Chapter 23—Walk Alone 350 Chapter 24—Ragnarök 363 Chapter 25—Sins of the Brother 379 Epilogue 387 Acknowledgments 395 About the Author 401 biography,memoir At 14 Years Old, Christian Picciolini, A Bright And Well-loved Child From A Good Family, Had Been Targeted And Trained To Spread A Violent Racist Agenda, Quickly Ascending To A Highly Visible Leadership Position In America's First Neo-nazi Skinhead Gang. Just How Did This Young Boy From The Suburbs Of Chicago, Who Had So Much Going For Him, Become So Lost In Extremist Ideologies That Would Horrify Any Decent Person? 'romantic Violence: Memoirs Of An American Skinhead' Is A Poignant And Gripping Cautionary Tale That Details Christian's Indoctrination When He Was Barely A Teen, A Lonely Outsider Who, More Than Anything, Just Wanted To Belong. A Fateful Meeting With A Charismatic Man Who Recognized And Took Advantage Of Christian's Deep Need For Connection Sent The Next Decade Of His Life Into A Dangerous Spiral. When His Mentor Went To Prison For A Vicious Hate Crime, Christian Stepped Forward, And At 18, He Was Overseeing The Most Brutal Extremist Skinhead Cells Across The Country. From Fierce Street Brawls To Drunken White Power Rallies, Recruitment By Foreign Terrorist Dictators To Riotous White Power Rock Music, Picciolini Immersed Himself In Racist Skinhead Culture, Hateful Propaganda, And Violence. Ultimately Christian Began To See That His Hate-filled Life Was Built On Lies. After Years Of Battling The Monster He Created, He Was Able To Reinvent Himself. Picciolini Went On To Become An Advocate For Peace, Inclusion, And Racial Diversity, Co-founding The Nonprofit Life After Hate, Which Helps People Disengage From Hate Groups And To Love Themselves And Accept Others, Regardless Of Skin Color, Religious Belief, Or Sexual Preference. Christian Picciolini ; Foreward By Joan Jett. "At 14 years old, Christian Picciolini, a bright and well-loved child from a good family, had been targeted and trained to spread a violent racist agenda, quickly ascending to a highly visible leadership position in America's first neo-Nazi skinhead gang. Just how did this young boy from the suburbs of Chicago, who had so much going for him, become so lost in extremist ideologies that would horrify any decent person? 'Romantic Violence: Memoirs of an American Skinhead' is a poignant and gripping cautionary tale that details Christian's indoctrination when he was barely a teen, a lonely outsider who, more than anything, just wanted to belong. A fateful meeting with a charismatic man who recognized and took advantage of Christian's deep need for connection sent the next decade of his life into a dangerous spiral. When his mentor went to prison for a vicious hate crime, Christian stepped forward, and at 18, he was overseeing the most brutal extremist skinhead cells across the country. From fierce street brawls to drunken white power rallies, recruitment by foreign terrorist dictators to riotous white power rock music, Picciolini immersed himself in racist skinhead culture, hateful propaganda, and violence. Ultimately Christian began to see that his hate-filled life was built on lies. After years of battling the monster he created, he was able to reinvent himself. Picciolini went on to become an advocate for peace, inclusion, and racial diversity, co-founding the nonprofit Life After Hate, which helps people disengage from hate groups and to love themselves and accept others, regardless of skin color, religious belief, or sexual preference."--Page 4 of cover. A stunning look inside the world of violent hate groups by a onetime white supremacist leader who, shaken by a personal tragedy, realized the error of his ways and abandoned his destructive life to become an anti-hate activist. As he stumbled through high school, struggling to find a community among other fans of punk rock music, Christian Picciolini was recruited by a now notorious white power skinhead leader and encouraged to fight with the movement to "protect the white race from extinction." Soon, he had become an expert in racist philosophies, a terror who roamed the neighborhood, quick to throw fists. When his mentor was arrested and sentenced to eleven years in prison, sixteen-year-old Picciolini took over the man's role as the leader of an infamous neo-Nazi skinhead group. Seduced by the power he accrued through intimidation, and swept up in the rhetoric he had adopted, Picciolini worked to grow an army of extremists. He used music as a recruitment tool, launching his own propaganda band that performed at white power rallies around the world. But slowly, as he started a family of his own and a job that for the first time brought him face to face with people from all walks of life, he began to recognize the cracks in his hateful ideology. Then a shocking loss at the hands of racial violence changed his life forever, and Picciolini realized too late the full extent of the harm he'd caused. Raw, inspiring, and heartbreakingly candid, 'White American Youth' tells the fascinating story of how so many young people lose themselves in a culture of hatred and violence and how the criminal networks they forge terrorize and divide our nation.