Since Sitara discussed the resurgence of the Klan in 1920 already, I thought I’d give a summary of how the Ku Klux Klan is doing as of the last 20 years. (As well as some personal experience with the Klan.)
(the banner at the top of the Ku Klux Klan's current website)
The modern Ku Klux Klan is no longer a united organization, but has many chapters and smaller groups spanning the United States. Each chapter differs slightly in beliefs, however the post World War II ideas of neo-nazism have been adopted in the Klan; from 1920 to today, the Klan is vastly different. The goals of the Klan now are no longer focused on simply white supremacy or white “rights”; in fact the most recent violent attacks by the Klan were against labelled communists and members of the LGBT community. Post world war, the Klan adopted neo-nazi ideals, blending the line between the earlier “dignified” Klan and the rougher, more violent “skinhead” subculture. The decline of the Klan is also very apparent; the disorganization of the group as well as the ever decreasing member count demonstrate that the Klan is on its way to extinction. The number of different groups that the KKK would target are now so large, the Klan lacks the power to significantly affect members of the LGBT community, immigrants, communists, non-Protestants and non-whites. According to the Anti-Defamation League, there are currently 6 major KKK affiliated groups. The Bayou Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana), the Church of the American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, the Imperial Klans of America, the Knights of the White Camelia, and the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
The revival of the Klan during the 1920s resulted in the coinage of many words and phrases used to identify other Klansmen, as well as create a vocabulary to refer to the rankings in the group (the leaders of the groups are called Wizards, I’m not even kidding.) The emergence of this language created a strong cult mindset among members; the group appealed greatly to poor, uneducated white men who sought a niche in growing diversity of America.
I visited the website of the Klan to find a crude and tacky page, colored red and blue, with the title “America’s White Future Begins Here” at the top of the page. The site has a donation page, as well as a list of upcoming events and rallies. While many attribute the decline in membership of the Klan in modern times to the ineffective Internet campaigning, it’s eerie to see that there is an upcoming Holiday banquet in Harrison, Arkansas this weekend. Thankfully the group is growing smaller in numbers, and while there are many factors attributed to this decline, the greatest would be simply the lack of young racists in each generation willing to join the Klan.
Despite the decline in membership of the Klan, the effects of the group are still felt today even as far north as Pennsylvania; my cousins who moved to Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania from India in 1996 received a note on their doorstep several months after they moved into the majorly white and rural neighborhood. The note was typed and short, incorrectly identified my family as Islamic, and threatened action against them if they didn’t leave. They gave the note to the local police station, however no one was ever arrested or questioned, and my family wasn’t ever bothered again. While my family laughs about it now, they admit that the incident did spook them for a couple weeks.
The revival of the Klan during the 1920s resulted in the coinage of many words and phrases used to identify other Klansmen, as well as create a vocabulary to refer to the rankings in the group (the leaders of the groups are called Wizards, I’m not even kidding.) The emergence of this language created a strong cult mindset among members; the group appealed greatly to poor, uneducated white men who sought a niche in growing diversity of America.
I visited the website of the Klan to find a crude and tacky page, colored red and blue, with the title “America’s White Future Begins Here” at the top of the page. The site has a donation page, as well as a list of upcoming events and rallies. While many attribute the decline in membership of the Klan in modern times to the ineffective Internet campaigning, it’s eerie to see that there is an upcoming Holiday banquet in Harrison, Arkansas this weekend. Thankfully the group is growing smaller in numbers, and while there are many factors attributed to this decline, the greatest would be simply the lack of young racists in each generation willing to join the Klan.
Despite the decline in membership of the Klan, the effects of the group are still felt today even as far north as Pennsylvania; my cousins who moved to Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania from India in 1996 received a note on their doorstep several months after they moved into the majorly white and rural neighborhood. The note was typed and short, incorrectly identified my family as Islamic, and threatened action against them if they didn’t leave. They gave the note to the local police station, however no one was ever arrested or questioned, and my family wasn’t ever bothered again. While my family laughs about it now, they admit that the incident did spook them for a couple weeks.
This is a really interesting post, specifically showing how the original Klan's overarching unity being their downfall as differing opinions had created factions within the whole Klan. For example, the Knights of The White Camelia believed that racial equality is insane according to their page on ethnicity. But another faction, the Traditionalist American Knights say, "We will absolutely NOT use our good name as an intimidation tool towards anyone, no matter what race, color, or creed. We are not a hate group as some will have you to believe."
ReplyDeleteI took a look at their website and I was actually laughing at one of the weekly shows linked from the page. A boy of about 8 years old is the centerpiece who "knows that because of his minority status, the odds might be stacked against his people. Kids will enjoy hearing a few comments from Andrew as he warns them of things to watch out for because he cares." (this is a direct quote). Also I couldn't help but note that the tab for the page says "Stop White Genocide." It makes me very sad that there are still Americans today who seem to have such backward beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rebecca, it's pathetic how discriminatory some people are even today. This post reminds me of how recently at UT a campus group played a game to inspire membership called 'Catch the Illegal,' in which students ran around campus trying to find the people dressed as undocumented immigrants.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the website too, and on some of the articles it's almost impossible to follow their argument because they keep throwing out random facts and Bible quotes that have some vague connection to the idea that white people are better. I think the problem is that their arguments aren't even plausible any more. They say stuff like white people are the naturally superior race in terms of intelligence and skill when it's obviously not true. When people of other races didn't have access to education I get how some people might have thought that it was true, but it's hard to support that kind of argument now that there people of all races who are educated and successful. Still, it's scary to realize that there are actually people in our country who believe in this.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the reason no one was questioned about the note was because the local police dept. contained KKK members?
ReplyDeleteAlso,
Watch at own risk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It9tzMce8bg
I really enjoyed reading your opinion here and i have to say i was surprised to find out in class this year that the KKK still exists. I agree with Maya's comment that the reason for the decline in membership for the KKK is an increase in education. Education is definitely a contributing factor to the decline of racism and belief in white supremacy, but i would argue that it is not the only thing. In my experience, you can teach someone all you want, but sometimes to make them believe you have to let them figure it out for themselves. In this way education alone may not be able to change someone's mind, but must be accompanied with experience. A young child brought up in a racist home sees and experiences racism ever day. Sure they may be told that another race is lesser than their own, but it when they receive proof to validate that statement that they begin to become racist. Likewise, you can tell a racist person that they are the equal of an African American, you can show them test scores which prove your point, but unless that person goes through an experience similar to one in which an African American person knows the answer and they don't, they cannot change their mindset. For this reason i would argue that the experience of equality rather than education which has effected the decreasing numbers of the KKK.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that people today would still identify themselves with the KKK after the terrible things that the KKK did in the early 1900s and 1800s. While it was socially acceptable at the time they were doing these things, and even the president Woodrow Wilson said that a movie with the KKK as the main character in it as the greatest movie ever, it is unacceptable that in our society an organization like this can exist. I also don't understand why the government does not intervene because the KKK stands for white supremacy while American stands for racial equality.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Patrick, except the Klan is within its legal rights, because of the 4th amendment, as long as they do not promote violence or hate crimes, so the government can't interven. (However the note the Klan in Pennsylvania left on my cousins' doorstep was a crime because it was a threat)
DeleteMaybe the decline of the Klu Klux Klan is how it is taught in schools. The general acceptance that the Civil War was for slavery, makes the Klan looks more like an organization trying to re-establish slavery than a group of people fighting for their god-given rights. History and media also demonized the Klan, resulting in a negative connotation very similar to Hitler's name.
ReplyDeleteThe Klan demonized themselves. (reminder they THREATENED my family which is illegal) Also I don't remember the lynching people being a "god-given right."
DeleteI agree with Mehr. Even when you strip accounts of the KKK (past and present) of any bias, the straight facts prove that their message is a hateful one. While obviously Klan members are free to think and speak their minds (see: First Amendment), this is not without limitations, and this certainly does not give them the right to threaten people, violently attack people, and kill people. Beyond their right to a freedom of speech I cannot see what "god-given" right they were fighting for. It is undeniable that many if not all of the KKK's ideals were/are founded on racism and sexism.
Delete@Mehr this is a great post and thank you for sharing a personal example!
That is scary that you knew people who were personally threatened by the klan, but the fact that the klan did not follow up after the police got involved symbolizes that the power is decreasing. I'm sure during the twenties when it was not uncommon for the entire police force to be on the side of the klan things might've been different and they might not have backed down. Although it is still very worrying that the police never questioned anyone because that might mean that it is just no longer endorsed by the police, but still ignored.
ReplyDeleteNice article Mehr. Your personal experience with the KKK adds credibility to your work. I've always wondered why the KKK chose such a whimsical name and bestowed titles on their leaders (like "Wizards") because they seem to....trivialize the organization. It's hard to take them seriously with names like that. Another part that interested me was how you distinguished between "dignified" Klansmen and the "rougher subculture"; I'd always thought of the KKK as just one group of men running around in ghost costumes.
ReplyDelete