Hate Crimes

Hate Crimes - violence aimed at individuals because they are members of a particular group - were once considered the rare illegal actions of a small but vocal assortment of extremists who thrived on hating minorities. No more. Hate crimes have been sweeping the nation-- and the world, occurring in even the most unlikely of places. Whereas college campuses at one time epitomized the lofty principles of tolerance, diversity, and idealism, they have now become the repositories of hatred and division. Hate is hip on campus, as evidenced not only by the popularity of racist and misogynistic music, but by the recent rash of attacks against blacks, women, Asians, Latinos, Jews, and gays. Levin and McDevitt, both leading experts on hate crimes, show how the campus of hate has become a microcosm for the world at large and document its trail of prejudice and bigotry in our society and throughout the world.