What To Do > Students & Friends

What is white nationalism?

In the US, white nationalism is the belief that because of their race or skin color white people have the right to hold all political power in America. White nationalists want to reduce the power of people of color (people they consider non-white) in the US, either by limiting their rights or by limiting the number of people of color allowed to live here. In general, white nationalists see people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Jewish descent as non-white, regardless of skin color.

Because white nationalism violates basic American beliefs that all people are equal and should be treated equally, regardless of race, religion, or country of origin, most people in America of all political views reject white nationalism. But throughout American history, in times of stress or rapid change, there have been groups that advocated white nationalist ideas, and today is no different.

Some white nationalist groups focus on persuading young people, often students in middle and high school, to join them. Today these groups usually spread their ideas online, through social media, gaming sites, videos, heavy metal music with hostile lyrics, or streaming webcasts. All these are designed to persuade young people to join up with a movement that thinks white people are members of a special race, and people who are non-whites as basically different, less welcome, less equal, less American, and a threat to white people’s lives and culture.

How can you recognize when a friend or classmate has been influenced by white nationalism?

It used to be that white nationalism was easily recognized by symbols like the Nazi swastika or the KKK’s robes. Sometimes those are still seen. Today, however, white nationalism more often makes itself known by images, words, and ideas that spread on the Internet, and sometimes they make their way into everyday culture.

The most common sign that someone has been influenced by white nationalist thinking is the use of degrading words to speak of a non-white person’s race. Referring to a person or insulting them by using those words is never ok, but it doesn’t necessarily mean someone has signed on to white nationalism. But if a classmate is regularly bullying others by speaking to them this way, you are right to feel concerned.

White nationalists try to teach young people a set of basic ideas that are not true. If you know some of these ideas you can be better able to tell if a friend or classmate has been influenced by them. Here are some of white nationalism’s most important negative beliefs:

• Race membership is the most important feature of a person.
• The US was founded by and for members of the white race.
• American society has been built by white people and is their birthright.
• There is a worldwide conspiracy to destroy the white race, led by globalist Jews.
• In America, the white race is being purposely “replaced” by non-whites.
• These ideas are summed up in the phrase, “White Genocide.”

Sometimes kids who encounter these ideas repeat them as a way of “trying them out.” They want to see how friends or classmates react because they’re not sure if they really want to adopt them. Other times, they may be convinced they are true and want to persuade other white students to join them. Either way there are reasons to be concerned.

If a classmate has become interested in white nationalism, they might also signal that through symbols they wear on jewelry, clothing, or decals on their school bags or cars. If you’d like to learn more about what signs might point to a classmate’s interest in white nationalism, check out the Signs To Know section on this site.

What can I do if I feel concerned?

If you see signs that a friend or classmate is getting into white nationalism, it can be hard to know what to do. And when we’re unsure, it may feel easier to do nothing. But white nationalism divides people: it splits the school community and it can be hurtful. If you’ve come to this website because you’re concerned about signs of white nationalism, here are some ways to think about steps you might want to take.

What things can I do if I’m bullied or harassed because of my race?

No amount of racial bullying or harassment is acceptable. If you’ve become a target of intimidation or discrimination because of your race, either through incidents at school or social media posts from classmates, make sure that people you trust at school know about the problem. You have a right to be free from it, and to expect your school to take action to ensure that you are. And you’re not just speaking up for yourself. By reporting bullying to adults you trust you are helping protect others. Speaking up is the right thing to do.

If you are not confident in your school’s response, make sure that adults at home are aware of the situation. It’s unlikely that you are the only person at school encountering this issue. If classmates and adults contact the school administration together, it’s more likely that the situation will be addressed.