Kathleen Belew (Books)

Kathleen Belew Books

Kathleen Belew unearthed the lives of white power militant subjects through previously classified FBI documents, newspapers published from Nicaragua to New York, and vivid personal testimonies, letters, and illustrations. Her work tracks the path of violence across thousands of pages of documents over more than a decade of research and writing, offering insight and authority rarely seen in such accounts. Her work is a testament to the journeys of violence across the United States and how these hate ideologies spread and influence ordinary people. She emphasizes how these groups evolved and shaped the American landscape, examining their impact on contemporary society.

Bring the War Home

352 pages
13 hours of reading

4.2(2389)Add rating

The white power movement in America seeks revolution, declaring war against the federal government and executing a campaign of terror against the public. Its members are not isolated individuals but organized groups driven by a troubling ideology of white supremacy, anticommunism, and apocalyptic beliefs. The movement, which consolidated in the 1970s and 1980s, emerged from a sense of betrayal following the Vietnam War and gained notoriety with the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. A motivated faction of veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilian supporters believed that waging war on their own country was justified. They united various militant groups, including Klansmen, neo-Nazis, skinheads, radical tax protesters, and white separatists. Operating with discipline, the movement engaged in assassinations, mercenary activities, armed robbery, counterfeiting, and weapons trafficking. Notably, women played a significant role in forging intergroup alliances and recruiting new members. This history underscores how the impacts of war extend beyond their immediate context, intensifying grievances and leading some to view violence as a rational response. It highlights the urgent need for awareness of the potential for paramilitarism in a contemporary landscape shaped by ongoing conflict.