Straight Edge Youth

Straight edge draws its name from the lyrics of a song by Washington, D.C., band Minor Threat. Ian MacKaye, Minor Threat's leading vocalist, coined the phrase “straight edge.” Initially the emphasis on straight edge was based on the individual, but since Minor Threat introduced the song in the 1980s, the movement has spread from its East Coast origin to become international.

Most straight edge members in the United States are adolescents and are predominately male and middle class. Straight edge was a reactionary movement emerging from the punk movement, which presents a paradox: it is at once both “straight” and “edgy.” Followers of straight edge rejected self-destructive behavior, such as drug abuse, and other hedonistic behavior and nihilistic attitudes that existed in the music scene. Straight edge members believe that maintaining a clear head and practicing personal restraint fosters self-actualization. In enacting this set of beliefs, members can overcome what they consider the negative aspects of both youth and mainstream culture.

The movement's symbol, an X, came from club bouncers marking the hands of underage concertgoers to indicate they were too young to drink. The drug-free community later accepted this stamp as an emblem, often wearing an X on clothing, incorporating the symbol into tattoos, or regularly applying it to their hands using black permanent marker. Straight edge members embrace a lifestyle based on clean living, which includes refraining from or renouncing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sexual promiscuity to retain a clear head and resist peer pressure. They see their commitment as permanent. Yet straight edge has [Page 1338]an unconventional side, challenging the dominant culture. This is reflected in the intense music and loud vocals that support the extreme style of dancing. The audience responds to the music by what is referred to as slam-dancing, a cultural phenomenon traditionally performed to punk rock music that involves participants purposely crashing into one another.

Slogans, originating from straight edge bands' songs, occasionally reflect the passionate nature of the music. These phrases are often worn on T-shirts, on patches sewn to clothing and backpacks, or as tattoos by more extreme or dedicated members. Some of the more popular expressions that emphasize the permanence and exclusivity of the group include “Straight edge: If you're not now, you never were”; “Straight edge: A lifetime commitment”; and “True 'til death”.