Milo Yiannopoulos: Former Breitbart writer who made a name for himself by reporting on factions of the alt-right. The white nationalist is the alt-right’s most visible figure and is the head of the National Policy Institute. Richard Spencer: Coined the term “alt-right” and founded. These outlets and figures have shaped the loosely affiliated movement as we know it today.
Here is an expanded list to help deepen your knowledge of present-day white nationalism, the individuals who espouse it and the vocabulary they use.Īlt-right ideas are bred and then spread. The feature story “What Is the ‘Alt-Right’?” offers a short list of names and terms to contextualize the details of the discussion. An important element of analysis can include comparing and contrasting the ideals of the alt-right with the American ideals of equality, inclusion and opportunity. Students need to be provided the space to discuss this movement, its consequences and its connections to past racial oppression in the United States. This movement is a rebranding of hate and white supremacist thought in the United States with the intent to spread it as widely as possible. And while its name might seem to indicate a connection to mainstream right-leaning political discourse, that indication is intentionally deceptive.
Those feeling misunderstood can easily connect via their phones with alt-right influencers who are not only young and tech-savvy but who also appear to be relatable, edgy and cool.ĭiscussing the alt-right in the classroom equates to entering a political debate.įalse. The alt-right, through the use of online forums, memes and videos, is directly speaking to a younger generation and engaging them, unlike the far-right leaders of the past. The alt-right targets young people more effectively than hate groups have done in the past. So now followers and leaders, like Richard Spencer, dress like the “boy next door” and are more media friendly. The old look of skinheads, for example, wasn’t conducive to advancing the desired agenda. When members of the white supremacist movement renamed themselves the alt-right, they also realized that more rebranding was needed. You can easily identify a member of the alt-right by the way they look.įalse. See below for more key images of this movement. While Pepe was created as a simple cartoon, the alt-right has coopted this image as its mascot. The desire to return to a past when diversity wasn’t embraced and white culture and power was the unquestioned norm is the one belief that unites the alt-right.įalse. Some are media personalities and influencers who espouse racist, misogynistic and/or anti-multicultural views. The term “alt-right” encompasses diverse groups of people, some of whom engage in online trolling as a way to spread inside jokes, hate speech and inspire anger. The alt-right is a clearly defined group of people with a shared set of beliefs and goals.įalse. How much do you know about the alt-right? Take this true/false quiz yourself or share it with colleagues.
How does the “alt-right” seek to influence and recruit young people?.This toolkit offers a quiz and a list of key terms and phrases to help educators become familiar with the names, images and tactics associated with the so-called movement and to better equip educators to recognize hate in the classroom. In “ What Is the ‘Alt-Right’?” Cory Collins explores the history of this loosely affiliated group and how its leaders are seeking to become more influential by recruiting young people.