MANIFESTING VIOLENCE

When communication becomes the engine of white supremacist violence.

Manifesting Violence: White Terrorism, Digital Culture, and the Rhetoric of Replacement by Casey Ryan Kelly and William Joseph Sipe is a compelling exploration of how the digital world has become a fertile ground for white supremacist ideology. Through an in-depth analysis of white supremacist manifestos, online rhetoric, and the myth of “white genocide,” Kelly and Sipe uncover the disturbing ways in which digital culture facilitates the spread of racist ideology and the radicalization of individuals. By examining the language of white nationalism―calls to defend the white race, family, and children―Kelly and Sipe reveal how these messages, often disguised as entertainment or humor, gradually transform passive consumers into active participants in a dangerous ideology.

Manifesting Violence sheds light on the alarming shift from organized white supremacist groups to a decentralized digital arena where hate speech is disguised as humor and online conversations foster a culture of violence. Kelly and Sipe’s thorough investigation of this growing digital ecosystem offers a chilling glimpse into the dark underbelly of online extremism. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the growing threat of hate-motivated violence and the urgent need to address its roots in digital culture, Kelly and Sipe offer rich insights to readers, researchers, academics, and policymakers concerned about extremism, online radicalization, and white supremacy.

Casey Ryan Kelly is professor of Rhetoric and Public Culture and director of graduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is author of Caught on Tape: White Masculinity and Obscene Enjoyment.

William Joseph Sipe is assistant professor-in-residence of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Honors College. Sipe’s work has appeared in Southern Journal of Communication, International Journal of Communication, and Critical Studies in Media Communication.