Investigating the KKK’s sociopolitical position in American history, past and present

Abstract

Purpose White nationalist groups have recently been at the forefront of American sociopolitical life, as demonstrated by the events in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. The purpose of this paper is to explore the historical roots and various waves of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Design/methodology/approach This paper offers high school teachers age-appropriate, evocative texts and disciplinary-specific, engaging tasks organized in a guided inquiry on the KKK, America’s most prominent hate organization. Findings Students are positioned to utilize newly-constructed understandings to take informed action on the local, state and national level. Originality/value Recently-published research has explored late-nineteenth century and early-twentieth century manifestations of the Klan, but not mid-twentieth and twenty-first century outbursts.

Lebensraum’s Tropical Turn

“…They believe that the latter is dominated by Jews and "corrupted" by inferior non-Whites or "mud people." White nationalists intend to provoke a race war that will "cleanse" the country of this corruption by eliminating these groups to establish a homogeneous White nation (Berry 2017;Bickford and Clabough, 2019;Blee et al, 2007;Hale 2013;Michael 2009;Ostendorf 2002;Perliger 2012).…”

“…The Ku Klux Klan exhibited this melding of racist ideology and territorial ambition from its very origins as an anti-Black, pro-slavery terrorist organization. As Klansters lynched African Americans and their allies, they sought to re-create a South characterized by unfettered White supremacy and free from liberal social and political influences (Bickford and Clabough, 2019;Hamm 2009;Southern Poverty Law Center 2011;Wade 1987). Eugenics and the mass migration of Jews and Catholics from Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe strongly influenced the formation of the second Klan in 1915 (Berry 2017;Largent 2002).…”

“…As such, their goal is both to preserve “White” culture (e.g., defense of Civil War monuments), which they perceive as being under attack, and to disrupt American society. They believe that the latter is dominated by Jews and “corrupted” by inferior non-Whites or “mud people.” White nationalists intend to provoke a race war that will “cleanse” the country of this corruption by eliminating these groups to establish a homogeneous White nation (Berry 2017; Bickford and Clabough, 2019; Blee et al, 2007; Hale 2013; Michael 2009; Ostendorf 2002; Perliger 2012).…”

“…In this paper, I argue that contrary to appearances, Operation Red Dog may be viewed as consistent with historical American hegemonic behavior in the Caribbean, and an extension of principles that theorists of White nationalist groups have derived from studying these groups. As participants in a social movement, White nationalists strategize to attain multiple goals, the most basic of which is the disruption of society to create a White homeland (Bhatia 2004; Bickford and Clabough, 2019; Flint 2004; Perry and Blazak, 2010; Soufan Center 2020). In the process, they (especially politically oriented White nationalists) must engage with the state, and this involves, during different periods, both conflict (e.g., the notion of lone wolf terrorism) and co-operation (Berlet and Vysotsky, 2006; Blee 2005; Southern Poverty Law Center 2011).…”