Invisible Revolution: A Youth Subculture of Hate 2000
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th St., New York, New York 10016; 212-808-4980
Produced by Beverly Peterson and Changing World Productions
Directed by Beverly Peterson
VHS, color, 55 min.
Adult
Popular Culture, Sociology
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis film is a disturbing documentary that profiles a subculture among today's youth that is becoming much more violent in their actions. On one side are members of white supremacy movements whose leaders are in their late teens; on the other side are numerous youth who are against them, including punk rockers, anti-racist skinheads, and mainstream teens. This latter group is being led by a group that calls itself the Anti Racist Action (ARA). Both sides are not opposed to using violence to put their message forward, and indeed the two sides are often indistinguishable from each other by objective observers. Interesting scenes from this video include the Ben Smith story, who was interviewed for this film only months before he went on his deadly killing rampage through Chicago ending in his death; interviews with the parents of young Klan members; a story on the deaths of two ARA members in Las Vegas in 1994; a wedding between two Klan teenagers, one of whom is the Grand Dragon for the Klan in Ohio; and a Klan rally in Columbus, Ohio in which ARA members protested and participated.
This video contains strong language, and illustrates extreme expressions of racism that may be difficult for young viewers to understand. This film is highly recommended, but only to high school and adult audiences. Educational uses of this video should be accompanied by the opportunity for discussion and elaboration, due to the strong language and violence content.