The Klan. Arguably the most infamous group of individuals whom ever gained prominence in the United States of America. Their acts of public, gruesome murder so notorious, that I believe their name to this day still strikes a grotesque feeling in one's stomach, that even their inspiration, the Confederacy, cannot manage. So, with this cruelty, how was it able to take on so many popular forms over the past century?
The documentary watched in class today, "Klansville USA", depicts the recent history of North Carolina, and its inseparable past in regards to the Klan. A brief summary of the events that took place in the film includes: the story of Bob Jones; the reason behind the Klan's success; tactics used by the Klan; and its sheer power by the mid to late 1900's.
Bob Jones, was a high-school dropout, and dishonorably discharged member of the Navy, whom refused to salute a black officer. And, despite being what many would consider to be of the lowest dregs of society, would rise to become the most infamous "Grand Dragon" of the Klan, ever (See Wikimili)
Bob Jones, in Klan attire
This was by no accident, either. One unintentional by-product of the civil rights movement, was the massing of people, specifically white, working class families whom felt left behind in the progress of African Americans. They had lived for years as the bottom rung of white society, but the notion of losing their status as being racially superior to African Americans both terrified, and enraged them.
Bob Jones harnessed this untapped energy and volatility to an extent which surpassed even his own ambition. For example, one of his first events ever, was meant to be but a small gathering within a cornfield of about a hundred people, yet by the end of the night, the attendance surpassed two thousand. Additionally, in what was known as the most progressive state in the South, North Carolina, became inundated with "chapters", of subdivisions of the Klan by the late 1960's.
Nationally, this effect was seen for decades prior. The documentary notes a peak of membership in 1925, in which over four million Americans claimed affiliation in the KKK. After a media crackdown in the 1930's, much of the Klan's power wavered, but the vein of hatred by the 1960's was ripe enough again for Bob Jones' exploitation. And, unfortunately in some capacity, this vein still active to this day, with an estimated member count of the Klan to be close to 10,000 (See Mic.com)
But what is remembered about the Klan, is their tactics. Intimidation, secrecy, and of course violence being some of their choice weapons. Murder was rarely acknowledged by the Klan, up until the Klansmen who shot Viola Liusto gained prime time attention, during an Alabama rally, reported on live by CBS news. This was the first time America had experienced the Klan, not as a fringe group of extremists, but open murderers speaking from within their living room.
The deterioration of the Klan followed soon after, with court cases piling high, and their own leader, Bob Jones, calling upon the fifth amendment, not once but over a hundred and fifty times. These "communist" tactics revealed many of their leaders to be noting more than snake oil salesmen, out for their own gain. Many members saw Bob Jones' testimony and investigation by the FBI, as an admission of his own guilt, and the splintering of the Klan, followed soon after.
What struck me as the most surprising in, "Klansville USA", was not the violence, the deceit, nor the cruelty, but the Klan's attempt to make what should have been a fringe group of individuals, a gathering for towns, communities, and families. There was everything from music playing, to a pig roast, to a pony auction happening at your local Klan rally, which enticed many, even those who may not have originally been motivated by racism. This was of course, a ploy by Bob Jones to show Klan as a lot of things to a community, rather than a device of hate. It was only after sundown, after the ponies had been sold, and the feast had, that the Klan burned a cross, and showed their true colors.
A cross burning with a small group of Klansmen
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