Though once considered merely a fringe phenomenon, hate music is a multi-million dollar industry. Profits from music distribution are directly funneled into white nationalist political campaigns. According to The Southern Poverty Law Center, youth and music cultural organizing has long been an effective recruiting strategy. Today, white nationalists rely heavily on hate music to enlist young racist activists. In the Northwest, white power music shows and industry events have often slipped under the radar of progressives and human rights activists. If You Don’t They Will educates communities on white nationalist strategies and supports community efforts to effectively counter organized bigotry.
Music has always been a powerful tool for creating social change. Music can inspire, motivate, and energize social movements. Unfortunately, white nationalists have long recognized this and are using music to articulate their agenda, recruit youth, and broaden the accessibility of their message. White power music shows, tours, record labels and bands are on a dangerous rise.
While it’s easy to think that one show with a racist band won’t have a significant impact, white power music is successfully recruiting new members and raising significant amounts of money for white nationalist organizations.
