To Be Woke...Or Not To Be Woke. That Is The Question. Coffee With A Skinhead.
About a month ago I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a post…it was a meme that said,
I immediately told this person who posted the meme “I’m genuinely curious…I had no idea. I’ll admit to my ignorance.” Thus, an interview unfolded to school ALL OF US….
So, let’s start at the beginning….I generally consider myself a very accepting “open minded” person.  I enjoy human diversity and think everyone has the right to be “who they are” and not just what society dictates they should be, think how they want and derive their own thoughts and beliefs based on whoever for whatever reasons because life is about personal choice (damn it). People who judge others and decide to be “mean” because someone else is different from them (in the name of morality or even “God”) is something I have very little tolerance for. As far as I’m concerned being “self-righteous” is an ugly sinful quality all on its own. Â
I’m far from being perfect…I still can make some unrealistic assumptions, but up until this point I didn’t think I had ANY glaring social hang ups.  I mean listen, half the time I’m arguing with people about not being such babies about where they pee and to stop worrying about who is peeing in the stall next to them (since so many people have an irrational fear of the “trans boogie person” hurting them or someone they love).  So, when this “meme” came to my attention it made me very aware that I was caught up in some kind of “fake news” nonsense and I had  a VERY warped perception of what I thought Skinheads were for a long time….and I’m sure other people do too!
What came to my mind when I thought of what a skinhead was BEFORE this interview? Â
1- race/white
2-Shaved head
3-Boots, suspenders, black jacket
4-racist views
5-violent based motives or complete anarchy
6-Only a male group
7-Intimidating
Basically….My mind always thought of the movie  “American History X”. Â
This is Robert Lee Johnson…AKA “Bobby Black”.  He graciously gave me permission to interview him about what being a Skinhead means to him….and to truly help “clear up” my raging case of ignorance.  Bobby, who is currently a young age of 34 was born and raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.  If you are not familiar, Doylestown is a predominantly upscale community in the heart of historical Bucks County….A picturesque area in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Where minorities are few, luxurious cars are plentiful, old money has been a staple, new wealth is the future, and for some residents much of their everyday life revolves around maintaining an “image” that defines their classy lifestyle.  These are the same type of people who would fear for their life if they were stuck in a social situation with a skinhead…Purely basing their fear on someone's appearance…. But then drive home and plop a 98 cent sign on their front lawn that says “Hate Has No Home Here”.  The irony.
Now granted that’s not the “M.O” for everyone who lives in Doylestown by any means (but these people do take up a lot of space)….. And Bobby is one of those exceptions.  You see Bobby came from a hard working, middle class African American family.  He is the youngest of 4 children and decided early on that he would not conform to what everyone “expected”. He was determined to live a life where color/race would not define his identity or predetermine his likes and dislikes.
As a young boy Bobby attended elementary school and was one of the only children of color. In those first few years of education he said that he never really felt as though he was treated “differently” than anyone else, and he didn’t have any difficulties making friends.  But things did change…..
(Bobby) “It was in 4th grade when another student called me a NIGGER for the first time…I honestly had no idea what to even say”. Â
When I asked Bobby if his parents had prepared him for these kinds of racial confrontations, his response was very matter of fact,
(Bobby) “No, honestly my parents never really thought racism was going to be an issue”. Â
As he continued to get older and then enter Middle School It continued to be apparent that making friends was becoming more challenging….He recollects thinking maybe his color did have something to do with it?  Bobby NEVER let that stop him.  He immersed himself in things like listening to music (Heavy Metal in particular) and he was always singing from as young as he could remember. Â
(ME) How did you feel around other African American people when you were primarily surrounded by white people outside of your home everywhere, all the time? Â
(Bobby) “ (with a gentle chuckle) Honestly, I didn’t feel black until I grew up. I never really thought about my color. While I was listening to heavy metal and punk music as a kid, my cousins were into hip hop and I just didn’t have the same tastes. I didn’t wear those styles or listen to that music . So when I went to visit family in Norristown, my choices weren’t considered acceptable. But it never stopped me from wanting to be around other people (or family) of my own color. I never hated my own kind even if they didn’t understand me.”
Unbeknownst to Bobby, around the age of 15 years old one of his best friends, Frank “shaved in” and became a formal member of the Skinheads (“shaving in” is when a new member gets their hair cut off as a gesture of their commitment to the group. This is not mandatory to join, but an individual choice).  When Bobby found out, he was bewildered  and put off.  He couldn’t understand why one of his best friends would choose to become part of a group that was known for their racist views.  When he confronted Frank, he said, “All skinheads are not racists…and you should think about joining” and it was at that point Bobby began to learn the origin of the “Skinheads” and what they were all about.  His love for hardcore music was something that he felt drew him to the hardcore “skin culture” and he felt a camaraderie with the other members who he had an opportunity to meet through Frank.  He had no doubt then or now that this is what he was “meant to do”….Bobby himself was initiated and “shaved in”, getting his fresh cut, first pair of Doc Martins and Levi jeans at 15 years old.  To his knowledge, he is the first and only African American member of his Doylestown Skinhead family since he joined 19 years ago.
Bobby has been something of an avid music fan, connoisseur, and artist for most of his life…. he attributes cultivating this passion and having his skinhead family to being able to survive some of the most difficult and darkest times of his life.  You see, in 2015 at the age of 30 years old Bobby’s mother passed away unexpectedly and just one year later without any warning was again devastated to suffer the loss of his only remaining parent, his loving father.  This sent Bobby into a mental downward spiral that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to recover from.  It was with the help of his “family” (Skins, relatives, and friends) that Bobby was able to find the mental fortitude to overcome those demons that were holding him down.  Fast forward to 2018….Bobby once again suffered a setback as he had a medical emergency when he went into cardiac arrest.  He literally died.  He died and was brought back to life.  Not only was he brought back to life physically…but he was brought back to life mentally. It lit a fire in him. Bobby has a determination to not only live…but be a “leader”, to create change, to be the change so that is desperately needed and he isn’t going to take “No” for an answer. He strives to educate people about the skinheads, overcome racism, achieve success in music and eventually start a family. Â
(Bobby) “It’s all about the universal law of attraction…I’m in a good place now, and good things are coming my way.”
(Me) Do you ever feel like you need to hide the fact you are a skinhead because people are going to judge you? Â
(Bobby)” I’ve never hid who I am…I’ll never hide that I’m a skinhead. I wear it proudly.  Bobby admits that with his look comes unfounded judgments by others and sometimes outright face to face criticism.  One criticism being that all skinheads are racists.  Even though I’m black there are still many people that just assume that I’m a racist (or I support racists) …that somehow we’re all racists.  I mean if people would just ask me, I’d GLADLY tell them the truth!  My skinhead group is about educating.  Letting people know that we are totally AGAINST racism, that we are proud patriots and we will stick up for what’s right.  We want a world of NON-RACISTS.  We want our named cleared!  I’ve had people call me Black Nazi, A walking contradiction, white washed, or just say I’m trying to be white…. and I know it’s out of ignorance. People need to be educated. If people don’t want to be educated, I just walk away.  It’s not worth my time. I have bigger fish to fry.  People who use violence and have hate in their heart usually do it out of fear.  People who don’t have to use violence are showing they have real strength.  To this day I still hear people use the word NIGGER in my presence and I just hold my head up high and take a breath.  I’ll even ask them if they somehow feel “smart or empowered” saying something like that. There have even been times when those people using the racial slurs end up apologizing and shaking my hand, so really anything is possible. My “family” (his skinhead group) wants people to be smart and to prevent senseless acts of violence.  We are not a violent group; we don’t go out to find trouble.  Don’t get me wrong, we always have our brothers and sisters’ backs, but we don’t look for fights.  Our family will never challenge anyone’s manhood, that’s not who we are.”
So inevitably I found out that my “perception” was not even close to reality….So, lets revisit.
1- race/white …….Skinheads can be of any color and race (the original Skin Heads or “Rude Boys” were Jamaicans and people of color)
2-Shaved head……Shaving the head is NOT mandatory. Lots of skin heads DO NOT shave their heads.
3-Boots, suspenders, black jacket….This is preference. There is NO uniform. None of this is required to be worn.
4-racist views….NOT ALL SKINHEADS ARE RACIST- Many, many are not.  Just like the human race, there are some jack off’s and there are some good people….Well, that rings true for this group.  Don’t judge the book just by its cover.  Don’t ASSUME!
5-violent based motives=anarchy…..Most Skinhead groups are NOT violent.  They are NOT LOOKING for violence.  There are some extreme right groups who are racist / violent but this is the minority. Â
6-Male….A skinhead can be any gender!
7-Intimidating….Well, that’s just neither here nor there. Take away all that other nonsense and “intimidating” is all relative.  A ticked off grandmother with a wooden spoon is intimidating!
Basically….My mind goes to the movie “American History X”…..Great cinematography…Good flick but that’s about it.  This is not the reality of the skinhead I met. Period. Â
Take a Gander at some of Bobby’s Ink....
Trojan skinheads (also known as traditional skinheads or trads) are individuals who identify with the original British skinhead subculture of the late 1960s, when ska, rocksteady, reggae, and soul music were popular, and there was a heavy emphasis on mod-influenced clothing styles. Named after the record label Trojan Records, these skinheads identify with British working class roots.
Rude boys were the name given to a subculture of young street corner hoodlums, gangsters and other unemployables. In immigrating to England, the rude boys helped spread Jamaican music to the working-class skinheads, another youth subculture. When the 2Tone sound of ska (the second wave of ska in the late Seventies) made it into the popular media, youth subculture changed with it. Today, a new American subculture revolves around the images of the 'rude boy' and 'skinhead.'
The Crucified Skinhead…….The crucified skinhead image is a longstanding symbol used by the entire skinhead subculture (i.e., both racist and non-racist or anti-racist skinheads). Skinheads often use it to convey a sense of persecution or alienation or that society is arrayed against them. In isolation, the crucified skinhead symbol itself cannot be described as a hate symbol.
For more information visit.....
Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice “SHARP”  Â
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanSHARP/
History of Skinheads Â
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinhead
Here are a couple of the bands Bobby has been involved with....
Thank-you Bobby for allowing me to pick your brain and share some of your personal background and history with all of us! Â
“I choose to be woke”
