I saw the poster and promo for this film but I can't help but notice there is a black guy as part of the skinheads? He looks mixed but he's definitely not white. Can someone whose seem the film explain? Thanks
shareNot all skinheads were racists. Milky was part of a non racist group.
That's the quick answer. The best answer would be to watch the film.
The original Skinheads were not racists. Back in the sixties when a large amount of Jamaicans moved to Britain they mingled with many whites and thus these whites started listening to the Jamaican ska Music and Shaving their heads. Combo also mentions to Milky that he is an original skinheads and that people like Milky's Uncle introduced him to the Music. Throughout the 70's and 80's this movement grew a bit more mainstream with many British ska bands coming up such as the selectors and The specials. the racist skinhead movement copied much of the original skinheads looks such as the boots and the shaved head. In western Europe today there are still two Skinhead movements one leftwing and one rightwing and they often collide.
shareThank you! I didn't know this history. Very interesting to know that it was a subculture born born out of the influence of Jamaican immigrants in England.
shareThe skinheads also have their origins in the mod subculture. Mods were teenagers who rode scooters, took amphetamines, and either dressed smart (sleek suits, dress shirts, suspenders) or in old military/work clothes (fishtail jackets, combat boots), often combining these styles. Mods also listened to "black music" such as jazz, soul and r&b and also some early ska and sometimes associated with blacks, like the poster above said. The mods were at odds with the rockabilly-listening, motorcycle-riding and leather-wearing rockers.
The original mods were in the 60s, but in the 70s there was a so-called "mod revival" that coincided with the development of punk rock and the wider introduction of ska and reggae sound. So mod culture became intermingled with fans of punk rock and ska/reggae and thus gave birth to the skinheads, who took some of the fashion elements (collared shirts, suspenders, combat boots, military jackets) from mods.
The more "punky" side of the skinhead culture developed into the white power skinheads in the 80s as there were economic problems in Britain and working/lower-class youth became worried that immigrants and foreigners were causing unemployment and other problems. Some skinheads denounced ska and started playing RAC or Rock Against Communism, a form of hardcore punk with anti-establishment/anti-foreigner/anti-left message.