1980s–90s
Goad graduated in 1985 with a
B.A.
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...
in Journalism from
Temple University
Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then calle ...
while living in New Jersey.
In the early 1980s, Goad met
Debbie Rosalie, who was eight years older, in New York. They relocated to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
and were married in 1987.
Goad worked at the ''
Los Angeles Reader
''Los Angeles Reader'' was a weekly paper established in 1978 and distributed in Los Angeles, United States. It followed the format of the (still-active) ''Chicago Reader''. The paper was known for having lengthy, thoughtful reviews of movies, p ...
'', covering local news, but wished to cover more fringe subjects, so the couple began publishing their own magazine, ''Answer Me!''
Around 1994 the couple moved to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
and Goad devoted his time to writing.
In May 1997, Goad began dating then-stripper Anne "Skye" Ryan about the time that Debbie was diagnosed with the ovarian cancer that later killed her.
Goad described Ryan as "Sweet Dracula girl" and as being "...fifteen years younger than me and a thousand times more fucked-up."
In November 1997, Debbie was granted a restraining order against Goad, after stating that he had hit, kicked, and spit on her and threatened to kill her.
They divorced in December, 1997.
In May 1998, Goad and Ryan had a fight in Goad's car outside of Portland.
Goad left Ryan by the side of the road, and fled to
Washington state
Washington (), officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. Named for George Washington—the first U.S. president—the state was formed from the western part of the Washington ...
.
When police met Ryan in a hospital emergency room, she had a blackened eye that was swollen shut, "bite marks on her hand and she was bleeding in several places."
Goad was charged with assault and
kidnapping, facing a potential 25 years in prison. After his arrest, Goad's ex-wife Debbie filed a motion to withdraw her restraining order, stating that Goad "has seeked counseling for three months and we are now friends after our legal divorce…. If I have a relapse from my ovarian cancer,
imwill take care of me and help me out."
Goad pleaded guilty to reduced charges and served years, split between jail and prison. He was released in the fall of 2000.
When asked if he had any
remorse
Remorse is a distressing emotion experienced by an individual who regrets actions which they have done in the past that they deem to be shameful, hurtful, or wrong. Remorse is closely allied to guilt and self-directed resentment. When a perso ...
or guilt about beating Ryan, Goad said, "Absolutely not. I enjoyed it."
While Goad was in prison, author
Jim Hogshire started a "Free Jim Goad" website, claiming that Goad told him he was innocent. After his release, Goad disputed the concept of the website, calling Hogshire a "nutty Muslim junkie." He stated that while he had said Ryan was lying, he never claimed innocence, but was not able to speak freely while incarcerated.
2000s
Upon his release from prison in 2000, Goad returned to Portland and was on
parole
Parole (also known as provisional release or supervised release) is a form of early release of a prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by certain behavioral conditions, including checking-in with their designated parole officers, or ...
for a time. He wrote for ''Exotic'', a free guide to the
sex industry
The sex industry (also called the sex trade) consists of businesses that either directly or indirectly provide sex-related products and services or adult entertainment. The industry includes activities involving direct provision of sex-related ...
of the
Northwestern United States
The Northwestern United States, also known as the American Northwest or simply the Northwest, is an informal geographic region of the United States. The region consistently includes the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. ...
and worked as a country music
DJ.
In 2008 Goad became a father.
He currently maintains his website, JimGoad.net, and writes for ''
Taki's Magazine
''Taki's Magazine'', called ''Takimag'' for short, is an online magazine of politics and culture published by the Greek paleoconservative commentator and socialite Taki Theodoracopulos and edited by his daughter Mandolyna Theodoracopulos. Initia ...
''.
Career
Writing style and beliefs
As a writer, Jim Goad has been called the "poster boy for the transgressive school of writing."
describes Goad's writing style as being "brutally honest without worrying about being correct."
Goad's work examines American culture, often popular and political culture. His early work reads anti-
politically correct
''Political correctness'' (adjectivally: ''politically correct''; commonly abbreviated ''PC'') is a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in socie ...
and as
shock value
Shock value is the potential of an image, text, action, or other form of communication, such as a public execution, to provoke a reaction of sharp disgust, shock, anger, fear, or similar negative emotions.
In advertising
Shock advertising or Sh ...
, while his later work, like the ''Redneck Manifesto,'' and journalism contributions have marked Goad as a political and societal commentator. In his political commentary he has described
conservatives
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
and
liberals in the United States as "two asscheeks surrounding the same hairy bunghole," and that politicians know how to take advantage of lower- and middle-class people because of a human's innate tribalism.
He has stated his support for
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
.
''ANSWER Me!''
From 1991 to 1994, Goad
self-published
Self-publishing is the publication of media by its author at their own cost, without the involvement of a publisher. The term usually refers to written media, such as books and magazines, either as an ebook or as a physical copy using POD (pri ...
four yearly issues of the zine ''ANSWER Me!'', with then-wife Debbie Goad.
It featured illustrations by
Nick Bougas. With a circulation of 13,000 the magazine sought to upset
politically correct
''Political correctness'' (adjectivally: ''politically correct''; commonly abbreviated ''PC'') is a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in socie ...
thinkers by covering subjects about race and feminism. The publication was banned and seized by customs officials in several countries, and the final ''Rape Issue'' was rejected by some bookstore owners. The zine, called "massively influential" by ''
Bizarre'', would also be credited as an inspiration by
Francisco Martin Duran, who took 29 shots at the
White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...
,
influencing the suicides of three British
Neo-Nazis, and a possible influence on
Kurt Cobain's suicide.
''The Redneck Manifesto''
In 1994, Goad signed a two-book deal with
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest pu ...
for $100,000.
''The Redneck Manifesto: How Hillbillies, Hicks, and White Trash Became America's Scapegoats'' was published in 1997. The book explores the idea of poor whites celebrating their heritage similar to poor African Americans, and that discrimination in the United States is focused around
social class, not
race
Race, RACE or "The Race" may refer to:
* Race (biology), an informal taxonomic classification within a species, generally within a sub-species
* Race (human categorization), classification of humans into groups based on physical traits, and/or s ...
. His thesis is that the rich elite blind the poor, and cause them to fight one another, instead of working together for their mutual benefit.
''Shit Magnet''
''Shit Magnet: One Man's Miraculous Ability to Absorb the World's Guilt'', is Goad's second book. Major New York publishing houses declined to publish ''Shit Magnet'',
and it was published in 2002 by
Feral House. The book, written while Goad was in prison, is an
autobiography. It examines Goad's childhood, teenage years, his relationships with former wife Debbie Goad and ex-girlfriend Anne Ryan, and reflections about his time in prison and his experience with the judicial system. The book includes great detail about Oregon prison life, including detailed descriptions about fellow prisoners, of whom he writes "forced sterilization maybe wasn't such a bad idea."
Writer
John Strausbaugh
John Strausbaugh (born 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American author, cultural commentator, and host of ''The New York Times'' ''Weekend Explorer'' video podcast series on New York City. Among other topics, he is an authority on the history ...
described ''Shit Magnet'' as "extremely painful" in detail and comparative in drama to the autobiography of
Klaus Kinski.
''Humor is Dead'' calls ''Shit Magnet'' a "sordid and often shocking personal allegory of guilt and violence."
In 2008, a play titled "Torn Between Two Bitches," was produced in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
by Michael Sargent, based on ''Shit Magnet''.
Other work
He wrote a
comic called ''Trucker Fags in Denial'', which was originally published as a comic strip in the Portland-based publication ''Exotic'' and was published as a comic book by
Fantagraphics
Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic Eros Comix imprint.
History
Founding
Fantagraphics was founde ...
in 2004.
The comic, written by Goad and illustrated by Jim Blanchard, is about two
trucker
A truck driver (commonly referred to as a trucker, teamster, or driver in the United States and Canada; a truckie in Australia and New Zealand; a HGV driver in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the European Union, a lorry driver, or driver in ...
s named Butch and Petey. The two characters are
homophobic
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred or antipathy, m ...
and beat up gays between trucking. The characters contradict their behavior by having a
homosexual relationship with each other. Goad came up with the idea for the comic while in prison, where he frequently observed male prisoners insulting each other as being "fags," and as "fagging off,' despite engaging in homosexual acts themselves while incarcerated.
''
Willamette Week
''Willamette Week'' (''WW'') is an alternative weekly newspaper and a website published in Portland, Oregon, United States, since 1974. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business, and culture.
History
Early history
''Willame ...
''s gay columnist
Byron Beck
Byron Beck (born January 25, 1945) is an American former professional basketball player.
A 6 foot 9 inch forward/center from the University of Denver, Beck was one of six players (along with Louie Dampier, Gerald Govan, Bob Netolicky, Stew Joh ...
described ''Trucker Fags in Denial'' as "twisted, vile, unrepentant ... and absolutely hilarious."
In 2007, ''Jim Goad's Gigantic Book of Sex'' was published.
The book consists of over 100 articles,
op-eds and facts about
sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones ( ova, of ...
, all written by Goad.
Goad writes a weekly column for ''
Taki's Magazine
''Taki's Magazine'', called ''Takimag'' for short, is an online magazine of politics and culture published by the Greek paleoconservative commentator and socialite Taki Theodoracopulos and edited by his daughter Mandolyna Theodoracopulos. Initia ...
'' and is a writer and producer for Thought Catalog. Goad has also contributed to ''
Vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character t ...
'' and ''
Hustler
Hustler or hustlers may also refer to:
Professions
* Hustler, an American slang word, e.g., for a:
** Con man, a practitioner of confidence tricks
** Drug dealer, seller of illegal drugs
** Male prostitute
** Pimp
** Business man, more gener ...
''.
In 2013 Goad wrote a foreword to a compilation of issues of the 1990s zine ''Gun Fag Manifesto''. He thanked the editor, Hollister Kopp, in his book ''The Redneck Manifesto''.
''The New Church Ladies: The Extremely Uptight World of "Social Justice"'', a collection of essays, was published February 13, 2017 by Obnoxious Books.
Goad is a columnist for
Counter-Currents Publishing.
Acting and music
Jim Goad has released music and performed as Big Red Goad, performing covers of classic and trucker-themed country songs. In 2007 he toured as the opening act for
Hank III.
In 2002 Goad acted in ''The Suzy Evans Story'', a film about a police detective who protects a battered woman named Suzy and proceeds to abuse her himself. Goad joked that it was
typecasting
In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...
.
The film was never released.
Political views
Goad is referred to as the "godfather of the new right"
and is associated with the
alt-right movement, with
Proud Boys figure
Gavin McInnes
Gavin Miles McInnes (; born 17 July 1970) is a Canadian writer, podcaster and far-right commentator and founder of the Proud Boys. He is the host of '' Get Off My Lawn with Gavin McInnes'', on the subscription-based streaming media platform C ...
citing him as one of his favorite writers.
Goad does not consider himself part of the alt-right movement.
Works
* Goad, Jim. ''The Redneck Manifesto: How Hillbillies, Hicks, and White Trash Became America's Scapegoats''. New York: Simon & Schuster (1998).
* Goad, Jim. ''Shit Magnet: One Man's Miraculous Ability to Absorb the World's Guilt''. Port Townsend: Feral House (2002).
* Goad, Jim & Blanchard, Jim. ''Trucker Fags in Denial''. Seattle: Fantagraphics (2004).
* Goad, Jim. ''ANSWER Me!: The First Three''. Baltimore: Scapegoat Publishing (2006).
* Goad, Jim. ''Jim Goad's Gigantic Book of Sex''. Port Townsend: Feral House (2007).
* Goad, Jim & Kopp, Hollister. ''Gun Fag Manifesto: Entertainment for the Armed Sociopath''. Nine Banded Books/Underworld Amusements (2013).
* Goad, Jim. ''The Headache Factory: True Tales of Online Obsession and Madness.'' New York: Thought Catalog Books (2014).
* Goad, Jim. ''Whiteness: The Original Sin''. (2018)
Discography
* ''Truck Drivin' Psycho'' 1996 (World Serpent)
* ''"Let's Fight!" with Jim Goad'' 2001 (Exotic)
* ''Hatesville'', ''
The Boyd Rice Experience'', 2009 (Caciocavallo)
References
External links
*
*
2011 interview with Jim Goadby
Tomislav Sunić
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goad, Jim
Living people
American magazine publishers (people)
Obscenity controversies in literature
Temple University alumni
Former Roman Catholics
American agnostics
American people convicted of assault
People from Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania
Male critics of feminism
21st-century American male writers
20th-century American male writers
1961 births