Hateland
A Long, Hard Look at America's Extremist Heart
White nationalists, mass shooters, conspiracy theorists: these scary labels seem to belong to the most extreme members of society. But as Daryl Johnson argues in Hateland, hateful extremism resides in the mainstream consciousness like a sleeper agent. As stories of hate-fueled violence and terror grow more and more frequent, Johnson exposes the catalysts that led to the epidemic of domestic terror facing the United States today.
Hateland begins by overturning the commonly held belief that violent extremists are always broken, mentally disturbed individuals. Instead, Johnson argues, plenty of “normal” people have the potential to turn to violence and hatred. Examining case studies of notorious killers like Dylann Roof, and unearthing the history of groups like the KKK, the book investigates what drives groups and individuals to extreme actions.
From chapters on alt-right social media presence to the aftermath of mass shootings, Hateland explores many possible theories. It is timely, direct, and insightful as it captures the political present and its various subcultures, and it underscores the important elements of American society that contribute to this climate.
Direct, powerful prose results in a disturbing look at the US. Every page seems to open new insights into the lives of those who hold alarming ideologies. A few instances are shorter on nuance, as when organizations like the New Black Panther Party are grouped with the Ku Klux Klan as similarly extremist, despite the differences between the actual physical violence the two perpetuate.
If there is one message to take away from this important book, it is that radicalization is a force with many dangerous outcomes, and that it is multiplying in our lifetimes. According to Johnson: in order to reduce hatred in the United States, we need to understand its complex, sometimes mystifying origins.
Reviewed by
Mya Alexice
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
