Tell us where you were born
and what you are doing with your life now.
Vitter: I was born in Mexico City,
currently acting and modeling. I have
always loved the performing arts and
it’s what I dedicate
myself to these days.
Tony: I was born in the
north of Mexico, in Torreon Coahuila but I grew up in Mexico City. Right now
I’m studying, I’m training to be a Jiu Jitsu fighter and I’m also a rugby
player.
Acheu: I was born in
Mexico City, currently working as a graphic designer and doing various related activities, screen-printing, web design, and selling some of my creations.
Victor: I was
born in Mexico City, I currently work in the tourism industry and have had the opportunity
to travel to many countries like India, Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Brazil,
England, Iceland, Belgium and Germany.
How old were you when first
started getting into the skinhead scene?
Vitter: I started on the scene at 15 years old.
Tony: I was 14
years old when I was introduced to the skinhead scene and I became a skinhead
at 17 years old.
Acheu: I was 20 years old
Victor: My first
encounter with the scene was at 16 but it wasn’t until the age of 18 that I
began to fully get involved in the scene.
What was it about the scene
that made you want to be a part of it?
Vitter: Primarily aesthetics, music and lifestyle.
Tony: The first thing that caught my
attention from the skinhead scene was reggae music and fashion, then I investigated
it more, after reading a lot about it I realized it was something that really
suited me because I come from a working-class family. It
is an identity, which adhered almost naturally to me because I grew up with
values like work, loyalty and was always frowned upon by society.
Acheu: Something that go me completely hooked was the music, ska,
early reggae, rocksteady.
Also the dress code appealed to me
greatly.
Victor: I think
it was primarily the music that drew me completely, but also its origins, its
ideals against racism and atmosphere of camaraderie that exists in the scene.
What kind of bands were you
listening to at that time?
Vitter: I listened to a lot of Oi, Rocksteady, Punk, Rap, Rock,
Alternative, Psychobilly. Actually
I've always been very open musically.
Tony: The Kingstonians
Acheu: I don’t remember
well, at least in Mexico there weren’t many bands to listen to. Only
bands of the
third wave of ska were to my liking. I listened to a lot of traditional
ska throughout that
time.
Victor: The bands
I listened to at that time were mainly old school, The Skatalites, Desmond
Dekker, Pat Kelly, The Specials, Bad Manners.
Were you able to find other
people like yourself in Mexico City?
Vitter: Not really, but there are people out here with similar
tastes or similar attitudes like mine.
Tony: Yes, in local pubs I met many people who share my ideas, musical tastes and
training with Puños Libertarios. I’ve
met people that have become like my family and always with clear ideas always antiracist.
Acheu: Yes, where I lived there were many skinheads.
Victor: Many years
ago it was a bit difficult as the seasoned skinheads were very protective so
not everyone knew the meeting points, and it was difficult to get the music
that was part of the scene. The older skinheads did not want it to become a fad.
How has the skinhead scene
influenced your life?
Vitter: Absolutely everything, the skinhead scene
rules my life.
Tony: It change my
life in many ways, the way of dress, the haircut, and how the people look at
you, unaccepted by society, a lot of trouble, life in the streets, but it makes
me hard and strong.
Acheu: The skinhead scene has
influenced my life creatively
and socially, especially with my job it has given me great inspiration to do well.
It has also greatly influenced my
thinking toward others without
distinction of race or religion.
It has influenced me, some of my family,
and many other skinheads who are
like my brothers.
Victor: Basically
everything, but it has influenced my professional development the most because
the origins of skinhead culture come from the working class and this has been
my main motivation.
Does your family support
your lifestyle?
Vitter: Sure, my family is my wife and
my little boy, and she always has agreed with it. My child learns all the values that I can give him so he doesn’t grow up with prejudice.
Tony: Most of the trouble with my family was about my way of life.
The first time I came home shaved and with my boots, my family was surprised
and they did not approve, they said that I looked very rough. I got in trouble
so many times, sometimes I would get involved in fights and they don’t like it.
Acheu: My family
supports anything I do as long as it makes my life worth living and I don’t destroy it.
They would continue supporting me even if I was a punk, raver, dark, emo, circus clown or something else.
Victor: Initially
it was a taboo subject in my household, but after a few discussions my parents
came around to the idea and my involvement in it.
What are some difficulties
of being a skinhead in Mexico City?
Vitter: We don’t have that many
problems like in other cities, it is not a big problem
because they do not see you as someone who is in a gang; the
issues are between other skins and how
they influence politics among activists. But because of my tattoos I always have
problems with the police.
Tony: Unfortunately,
there is a lot of divisions in the scene, Boneheads, Traditionals, Antifascist,
communist etc… And there is no unity against the real problem in the scene; The
Boneheads.
Acheu: Well personally, the main difficulty is to not be a magnet for
problems. People, who do not know you, neighbors or police, tend to always
make up ideas about you and invent frightening
stories that are not what you really are.
In Mexico of course, a Mexican is
always wary of another
Mexican.
Victor: I am
totally convinced that the difficulties of being a skinhead in Mexico is the
scene itself. It is responsible for fueling division between each person with stupid
ideals ranging from music you listen to, the brand of clothes you wear, the
events that you attend, those who do not attend, your friends. Seems like a
joke but it's true, if someone from the scene does not like something about the
list I mentioned you're accused of not being a real skinhead.
What is the biggest
misconception about skinheads that people have in Mexico?
Vitter: They think that we are Nazis and then ...
the question is always the same "Dark Nazis?" jajaja
Tony: They look at us in
the streets and they avoid us. They don’t have an idea about what is the
skinhead scene is.
Acheu: In Mexico the main problem
in the skinhead culture is ignorance. Many people in Mexico enter the small
skinhead scene, knowing little or nothing about the history of this way of life; they do it for fun or to fit
in with others. What sometimes happens is that shortly after
that their thinking becomes distorted,
they end up joining ultra radical groups
such as National Socialist
groups who are full of ignorance. These groups are often called skinheads Morenazis of Mexico.
Victor: In Mexico
as in many other countries the main mistake that society has about the skinhead
scene is and will continue to consider us a racist and fascist movement.
What does it take to be a
dedicated Antifa in Mexico City?
Vitter: I personally doubt there is actual Antifascist skins entirely in Mexico,
as in other cities there is
always direct actions, collectives, events and other things but here
in the city its mostly violence that is rampant.
Tony: I adapt my
ideology to my reality, trying to fight against the inequities and helping the
people who need it. In Mexico there is a lot of fascism disguised as
government, religion, corruption by the police and a lot of other abuses. To be
a real Antifa, in my opinion is to think as a person, a human and show
resistance against oppressors.
Acheu: The basis of any ideology is education.
Victor: I think
you just have to be true to your ideals, completely believe in them and never
abandon them.
What can we all do to help
stop the spread of racism and corruption?
Vitter: Not working of course with it and do
everything possible to eradicate people with these ideologies either through
education or through violence.
Tony:
All we need is education.
Acheu: In Mexico racism and
corruption are almost dogmas,
where since your childhood you
are shown that only certain groups can
get riches, pleasures,
achievements or luxuries. For example we have a television
program that shows in their
majority that white people with
high or stellar positions and people of different skin color in low-wage jobs, almost as if it were a law of life that things are so. In turn, in Mexico
there is racism towards ethnic and indigenous people of the country, marginalized, abused and discriminating
against those who come from the
countryside or know less. Education,
not only can be
in a classroom, but also the education that should be given from a family, to other cultures and religions it is the solution to get rid of all this
ignorance. Help those who know less by teaching and not harassing.
Victor: Although
there are institutions and groups entirely dedicated to combat and eradicate
these problems, I believe that all change begins within oneself and major
social circles around us like family, friends, and coworkers. It is those
people that we spend more time is how we begin to sow the idea of not being
part of these problems, in turn these people can help spread the idea to more
people.
