While the Ku Klux Klan is known mainly for its white supremacy beliefs, the second Ku Klux Klan actually incorporated anti-Catholic, and nativist beliefs into their ideology. The Klan resurfaced following World War 1 as an outlet for intense patriotism, as well as a reaction to the roaring 20's lifestyle. Its membership peaked in the mid 1920's at around 5 million members. During its power, it had a great influence over politics. Woodrow Wilson himself shared common ideas with the KKK, and was a great fan of their film, the Birth of a Nation. However membership shrunk rapidly to a mere 30,000 members in 1930, when people had to deal with the Great Depression, as well as the discovery of internal embezzlement.The Ku Klux Klan still exists today, in many smaller groups. Quite recently, one group has supposedly removed white supremacy from their ideology. They now allow Jews, blacks, and homosexuals to join. Their goal is a strong America, rather than a white America.
Sources:
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/ku-klux-klan-the-second-ku-klux-klan.html
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ku-klux-klan-opens-its-doors-hispanic-blacks-jews-gays-1473907
This is very interesting! I was very curious about what the KKK does today, especially if they have grown to be more accepting, so doesn't that then defeat the purpose of the Klan? The Klan is actually used more as a religious group, and they stand up crosses and other Catholic-related stuff. This is a way that shows that they are no longer the ferociously racist group anymore.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post but I just wanted to add on to what you have on the second Ku Klux Klan. The second KKK was founded by William J. Simmons, an ex-minister in 1915. At its peak, in the mid 1920s, it had about 4 to 5 million members. The second KKK did not last very long though and it broke up in 1928. This was largely due to state laws and bad publicity.
ReplyDeleteAbout the current KKK, what exactly are their goals? Because there are branches of the KKK that still do prejudice against blacks, gays, etc., so what do you mean by "a strong America"?
ReplyDeleteThe KKK today is not one organization. It is more of a collective of various independent chapters. Because of this separation, not all KKK chapters have the same ideas. There is one chapter, the Rocky Mountain Knights, who want to accept non-white Americans and the LGBT community. This new Klan's goals are more focused on avoiding a "new world government" which they claim the US is in favor of. The leader of this Klan, John Abarr, says "White supremacy is the old Klan. This is the new Klan". People are saying that if he were really reformed, he would drop the name of the KKK because of all of its history. However, I have a feeling that he is trying to save the organization and to show people that the KKK is not inherently evil, despite its past crimes.
DeleteSource: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/%E2%80%98gay-friendly%E2%80%99-%E2%80%98non-racist%E2%80%99-ku-klux-klan-branch-opens-montana101114
I found some information about their wardrobe. Some of the most recognizable Klan symbols date back to the group’s origins following the Civil War. The KKK’s white hoods and robes evolved from early efforts to pose as ghosts or “spectral” figures, drawing on then-resonant symbols in folklore to play “pranks” against African-Americans and others. Such tricks quickly took on more politically sinister overtones, as sheeted Klansmen would commonly terrorize their targets, using hoods and masks to disguise their identities when carrying out acts of violence under the cover of darkness.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.oup.com/2015/01/klansville-usa-david-cunningham-ku-klux-klan/