Ku Klux Klan

DeSantis's War on "Woke" Evokes Darkest Parts of Florida's History

by Carol Anderson

Calling DeSantis's agenda a "culture war" obscures the fact that is in fact a war against the marginalized, an effort to narrow the definition of who counts as a Floridian and whom the state will serve and protect, with the right to vote at the center. 

Like the Klan, January 6 Deniers Will Lose

by Adam Serwer

During Reconstruction, the rapid growth of partisan media outlets made it impossible to tell whether stories of Klan atrocities were true or "fake news." Elaine Frantz Parsons explains how the reality of the Klan became established. 

It Wasn't Long Ago that Easter in Fort Worth Celebrated the Lord and the Klan

A look at the Easter week headlines from a century ago shows the casual respectability of the Klan among white Texas christians. 

Citizen Tour Guides Protect the Memory of Civil Rights Killings in Mississippi

"Obbie is of the opinion that if something needs to get done, especially something as important as ensuring that the legacy of your community and family doesn’t get erased, you’d better first employ yourself to do something about it."

How the KKK Sowed White Supremacy in Oregon in the 1920s

Both racist and anti-Catholic bigotry fed the rise of the Klan as a power in Oregon's politics in the early 20th century, with an estimated 50 chapters and 58,000 members. 

Good Luck Teaching Florida's History under State Legislation Blocking "Uncomfortable Themes"

by Gillian Brockell

In 2020, Ron DeSantis signed a bill requiring the history of the 1920 Ocoee Massacre be taught in Florida schools. Legislation pending this year would potentially enable parents to block the lessons, along with teaching other important episodes of violence in the state's history. 

The Beatles vs. the KKK

John Lennon's notorious "bigger than Jesus" comment prior to the group's 1966 American tour brought out right-wing protestors and helped push the band to stop touring permanently. 

Did Cartoonist Billy Ireland Really Push the KKK out of Columbus, Ohio?

by Eliya Smith

Local lore held that Columbus Dispatch cartoonist Billy Ireland's merciless taunting of the KKK forced it to leave town in the 1920s. Could newspaper cartoons really do that? 

The KKK was also a Bosses' Organization

by Chad Pearson

While the membership of the Reconstruction-era Klan was broad, its leadership was drawn from the Southern elite, whose vision of white supremacy was inseparable from the exploitation of Black labor. 

The KKK Ruled Denver a Century Ago. Its Legacy is Still Felt

Historian Robert Goldberg describes how the Klan worked in the 1920s to dominate local goverment in the Colorado city and the state government. 

It Was once a KKK Stronghold. Last Year BLM Came to Town

What happened when BLM protest arose in Vidor, Texas, long a center of East Texas Klan activity?

America’s Political Roots Are in Eutaw, Alabama

"The terror campaign of 1870 ended the promise of Alabama’s brief Reconstruction era, allowing the so-called Redeemers to pry Alabama from the hands of reform. This was the critical juncture that led to the way things are."

The Landmark Klan Free-Speech Case Behind Trump’s Impeachment Defense

Though Trump’s impeachment is not a criminal trial, his lawyers in their legal briefs referenced Brandenburg v. Ohio, arguing that Trump didn’t direct his supporters to attack the Capitol.

What the History of the Ku Klux Klan Can Teach Us about the Capitol Riot

Historian Linda Gordon urges readers to recognize that the Klan has always drawn from "respectable" members of white society, giving it a dangerous ability to claim to represent real American values.

Blaming the Messenger: Trump, the KKK, and the War on Historians

by David Welky

Conservative demands for "patriotic" history education echo the culture war fought by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. 

Premiere: Mississippi Justice

The Bitter Southerner magazine and PBS's The American Experience partner on a short film that examines the plot to murder the civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner in 1964. 

Black and White Polk Pastors Overcome Racism in Show of Forgiveness and Grace

Richard Harris and Kenneth Stephens committed to Christian demands for forgiveness and reconciliation, and have shared their personal stories in an effort to heal racial divisions. 

‘Fifth Girl’ In 1963 KKK Church Bombing Seeks Apology, Restitution

Sarah Collins Rudolph argues that the State of Alabama, in the person of Governor George Wallace, directly incited the racial hatred that led to the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church. 

Michigan State to Rename Building That Honored Klan Member

Stephen Nisbet was a longtime educator and trustee of Michigan State University. Evidence suggests he also was a member of the Klan during its 1920s resurgence. 

Tulane Canceled a Talk by the Author of an Acclaimed Anti-Racism Book After Students Said the Event Was 'Violent'

Reason columnist Robby Soave questions why a speaker whose books renounce family and community histories of white supremacy would spark outrage by antiracist student activists.