Politics dictionary
1488
or 14/88 or 14,88
What does 1488 mean?
1488, along with other variations, is a secret code used by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists to identify and signal their ideology.
Where does 1488 come from?
The numbers 14 and 88, used in various combinations, are a code used by neo-Nazis and white supremacists to broadcast hate speech in a covert manner and to show their alliance with others in their movement. The number 14 refers to David Lane, a notorious white supremacist leader and murderer, who at one point issued the 14-word statement: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” Lane, who was incarcerated for various crimes including the assassination of a Jewish radio host, wrote his infamous words in 1985 while in prison (he ultimately died in prison in 2007). The number 88 refers to the fact that H is the eighth letter of the alphabet, so 88 is HH. This stands for “Heil Hitler,” part of the historic Nazi salute. Essentially, 1488 is a callback to these two figures and their racist ideologies.
In Germany, overtly Nazi symbols such as the swastika are banned from use, so these codes have been a way for Neo-Nazis to circumvent these laws. According to Michael Weiss, an expert on German right-wing extremism, there are at least 150 such codes, and they are hidden everywhere, from license plates to signs at football games. Many white supremacists tailor their crimes according to these numbers. For example, in 2008, the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama prompted two Tennessee white supremacists to put together an assassination attempt. Both men were arrested, and it was revealed that in addition to plotting to murder Obama, they also hoped to murder 88 people, and then to behead 14 African-American children.
Examples of 1488
Who uses 1488?
The use of 1488 in any form is a racist statement, tied to the history of white supremacy, Nazism, and attempts to murder and/or enslave Jewish people, African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, and any other non-white populations. When posted on social media, these numbers serve as a call sign for white supremacists to recognize one another, sometimes by spacing the numbers apart within one’s username or by using them at the end of one’s email address. Sometimes, hate-themed merchandise will be priced based on this code: for example, the racist Neo-Nazi video game Ethnic Cleansing, created by the white-nationalist organization National Alliance, was priced at $14.88. The numbers are also seen in flags, social media, and tattoos.
The configuration or display of 1488 makes no difference: 8814 means the same thing as 1488, as does 14/88 or 14-88. Another secret symbol of white supremacist groups, based on the 1488 code, is a symbol depicting two dice. These dice are positioned in such a way that the two faces on the first dice show a one and a four (representing 14), and the second two dice show a five and a three (eight total). As the swastika is such a widely-recognized hate symbol, these lesser-known dice are a way for these groups to signal their racist beliefs in plain sight. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all dice tattoos, icons, or avatars are hate symbols, nor all uses of the numbers 14 and 88, but be very mindful of context. Some neo-Nazis and white supremacists are sometimes called as 1488-ers.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of 1488 like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of 1488 that will help our users expand their word mastery.