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The Klu Klux Klan
"Only pure White Christian people of non-Jewish, non-Negro, non-Asian descent ...
can enter the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan."
-- from the KKK.com web page
"We stand for white supremacy. ... The supremacy of the White Race must
be maintained. ... We must keep this a white man's country."
"This Republic was established by White Men. It was established for White Men.
Our forefathers never inteded that it should fall into the hand of an inferior race."
-- from the "Ideals of the Klu Klux Klan", published at the turn of the last century
In the book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, the Klu Klux Klan plays an important
background role, one that serves to underscore the times and attitudes of the 1930's. You will read
about several of the secondary characters being Klan members, you will see segregation enforced
by the Klan, and you will read about an instance of a Klan gathering outside the cafe. (In the movie
version, these instances are vividly brought to life and are graphically portrayed.)
So, let's see -- Where can one start when talking about the KKK? Today? The 60's, when the federal
government finally, through exhaustive efforts and at the cost of many lives, broke the psychological
grip of the KKK? We could look at the history of how they came into being. We could look at the
psychology of mobs, the inner fears of poor whites, the destitution of a debilitating slave
mentality coupled with no education or hope. It is truly an extensive subject.
We'll talk about those things in brief, but we'll focus mainly on addressing the Klan as it was in
the 1930's, in an effort to understand the background of the book better.
We'll start with a brief history.
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A Hooded Klu Klux Klan member
on a recruitment poster.
Shadowy ghost-like figures in silhoutted
in front of the Klan's symbol of fear
and dominance: a burning cross.
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The History of the Klan
The desdcription and explanation of the history of this menacing group is a long one: full of twists and turns, ups and downs. From the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, this site has provided an in-depth look at the history of the Klan. This history is very well-written and very much worth worth your time. (This document is about seven pages long, so it is probably best if you can print it out. Be sure to use your Printer Dialogue Box to turn on Page Numbering!)
The Origin of the Name Ku Klux Klan
"The name Ku Klux Klan comes from the Greek word kuklos, meaning circle, because in it is contained some of the unique characteristics of the White (or Aryan) race. The wheel is certainly the best symbol of creativity; hence the creativity of the White race, and the circle is the oldest symbol of unity. Kuklos thought about in this context simply means White Racial Brotherhood. Ku Klux was simply taken from the word kuklos and Klan was added."
--from the KKK.
com web site
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The KKK in the early part
of the century and the 1930's
President Lincoln wrote the Emanicpation Proclamation, freeing the slaves. However, federal efforts to ensure the rights of African-Americans in the South came to an end in 1877. Over the following four decades, without significant objection from the courts or the federal government, white supremacists enacted "Black Laws" which imposed their own strict version of justice.
Here is a digitalized copy of a KKK tract, "Ideals of the Klu Klux Klan", printed
in the early part of the 20th century. (From the Michigan State University Library's collection on Radicalism, seven pages.)
After this site loads, at the bottom of Page 4, the section on white supremacy begins. The text is continued on page 5.
"1924 -- The Ku Klux Klan reached the height of its
influence in America: by the end of that year it will have
claimed 9 million members. It will decline drastically in
1925, however, after financial and moral scandals rock
its leadership."
However, even though the membership was declining, we want to keep in mind that the mindset had already formed, the fear had already been instilled.
The mindset that had formed was this: that is correct and acceptable to brutalize another race for no other reason that the fact that they were different.
The fear that had been established , for white people, was the fear of reprisals from the Klan -- that your decision to help or befriend or sympathize with a black person would be reason enough to recieve a visit from the hooded members of this hate group.
The fear for blacks was that any moment of their lives, they could die a terrible painful death at the hands of these fearmongers, and no one would step in to stop them and the murderes would not only never go to trial, but be condoned and viewed as one of society's heros.
Yes, this was a terrible terrible organization, fed on fear and intimidation. No one was beyond thier reach.
The following site The Progress of a People describes the attitude of the times, where a black person could be lynched "'on general principles".
There was an exhibit of lynching photographs in New York recently. Looking at the photos, you get a sense of the sway the KKK held over the population, how their verion of justice and manipulation of fear conjured dread in all who heard their name.
Click here to hear am audio clip of someone describng a lynching.
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The iconic image of hooded KKK memebers
in front of a burning cross.
The burning cross was, and still is, used to control
whites as well as blacks, to intimidate
blacks into submission and whites into
not acting like "nigger-lovers".
George Meadows, "murderer & rapist,"
lynched on scene of his last crime.
L. Horgan, Jr. (dates unknown).
Photograph, c. 1889. LC-USZ62-31911
"The real purpose of these
savage demonstrations
is to teach the Negro that
in the South he has
no rights that the law will enforce. "
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This sign reads "We cater to whites only".
Signs segregating Blacks and Whites
were commonplace in the Old South.
Another example of a sign that reads "Colored Only".
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Segregation
In the book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, the local law officer warns Idgie (the owner of the Cafe) that others are complaining because she is serving black customers -- from the back door of the kitchen! In a clear demonstration of Idgie's character, she brushes off the criticism and continues to serve her African-American customers anyway -- from the back door of the kitchen. Even Idgie could not change prejudices of the time enough to allow these folks to come into the cafe by the front door, sit down and order from the menu like anyone else.
This episode stands as a blatant reminder of how strong racial prejudice was at that time -- particularly in the south.
From the 1880s into the 1960s, a majority of American states enforced segregation through "Jim Crow" laws (so called after a black character in minstrel shows). Many of these were not state laws, but "laws" written and enforced by local KKK groups. They were woefully effective in instililng fear.
The following site, The Progress of a People introduces the range of segregation a former slave had to endure.
Here is another site that outlines the Jim Crow segregation laws.
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Today's Retaliation
Against the Klan
The social climate today in the US is quite different. Thanks to social leaders such as Marcus Garvey, in the earlier part of the 20th century and
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 60's, Americans have learned to be more aware of prejudice and have learned to be more tolerant and open-minded about all people. Through the work of these people and countless others, Americans today realize that prejudice is wrong, that segregation is wrong, and hate is wrong.
Many organizations have sprung up to fight prejudice and hate of all kinds, including prejudice towards any race, against women, against sexual preferrence and against religion. These organizations have accomplished a tremendous amount in terms of educating the public and changing public opinions.
Federal laws are now in effect to prevent segregation, and now no one thinks anything about eating in the same restaurant with folks from any race, or having a nurse or doctor whose skin is a different color. And interracial marriages are not given a second thought.
The Klan is no longer such a powerful organization, and no one shakes in fear when the name is mentioned. However, they are still around. The next section looks briefly at this organization in the late 20th century.
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"Stop the Hate".
Not just a slogan but a way of life.
Don't tolerate intolerance.
Martin Luther King, Jr. A legendary figure.
Each and every one of us
owes a debt of gratitude for
what he did for us, our children
and our grandchildren.
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A 1998 photo taken in Jasper County, Texas.
Unfortunately, this photo shows that the
is still with us today. Not as strong,
not as popular, but still, there are
those who are prejudice and who hate.
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The Klan Today
America is far from a perfect society, and I wish I could report that there is no more prejudice. Well, there technically is none - the visible barriers are gone. But I would be lying if I said it didn't exist. It is more subtle and difficult to pinpoint, but it still there. We only just can keep trying.
And I wish I could report that there are no more lynchings. But, I have to report the sad truth that as recently as
1998, in Jasper, Texas, there was another lynching - the death of James Byrd, Jr. The lynching was done by three white men, two of whom were known to be involved in the KKK.
So, I have to report that today, althogh the Klan does not hold us in its grasp as it once did, it is still around as you can see by the photo to the left.
The KKK, like everryone else, has a presence on the Internet, too. There are several sites listed when you do a search, and this site,
the KKK Website appears to be the official site.
Here is a site from a group in Indiana, showing recent photos of Klan members and Klan activities.
It looks like this group is not going to completely die out. This and other White Supremicist groups are a part of Amerca these days. They are tolerated under the Constitution that allows freedom to gather and freedom of speech. We can just be grateful they are a shadow of their former selves, and be grateful they no longer hold an entire nation in fear.
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Sources
A salute to each of these websites! Each website that you and I casually visit for a few seconds or for many hours is the result of love, sweat and dedication, not to mention many many hours worth of keyboarding. I thank these webmaster for their unselfish efforts to share themselves with the world and the internet community.
http://osprey.unf.edu/dept/equalop/oeop11.htm
http://www.lib.msu.edu/spc/digital/radicalism/hs2330.k63k84/001.htm
http://www.nps.gov/malu/documents/lincoln_emancipation_proclamation.htm
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aap/aapmob.htm
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aap/idawells.ram
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aap/aapprot.html
http://www.kkk.com/
http://www.kkklan.com/otheritems.html
http://conspiracies.about.com/newsissues/conspiracies/cs/hategroups/
http://africancultures.about.com/culture/
http://www.civmag.com/articles/C9910F03.html
http://www.nps.gov/malu/graphics/jimcrow1.gif
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_121000/121604.stm
http://websearch.about.com/internet/ BR>
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aap/aapmob.html
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aap/idawells.ram
http://www.nps.gov/malu/documents/jim_crow_laws.htm
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,106531,00.html
http://search.gallery.yahoo.com/search/corbis_id
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/mlk/7.html
Martin Luther King. Jr. photo essay
Note: All efforts have been made to give correct and proper credit. If you see a source that has not been credited, please let me know and I will make every effort to correct the oversight.
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