Ku Klux Klan

Introduction

The Ku Klux Clan is a far-right group that is committed to spreading extreme violence against racial minorities in the United States of America (Lee, 2005). The first Klan came into existence in the southern parts of the United States in the late 1860s. This group was formed by veterans of the confederate army.  The group gained momentum in the south where many white Americans became associated with it due to what it claimed to fight for. The group became a free vigilante aimed at restoring white supremacy. This came in the wake of the reconstruction period when many former slaves had become free men. The organization flourished more in the south than in the north because the southern states were the main areas that utilized slaves for labor in their plantations. This organization was not only against freed slaves, but also those republicans who were sympathetic to them. The mode of dealing with the freed slaves and their sympathizers was violence and intimidation. One of the most remarkable goals of the group was to oppose their rights to vote. In addition to the voting rights, the freed slaves had been given the freedom to participate in other social processes such as business an employment processes.

This freedom brought about competition with the whites who felt that they had exclusive rights to the processes. The high rate of immigration into the United States worsened the situation as the competition intensified. The social changes that took place after the civil did not go well with some few whites who were conservative. Many whites living in the United States when the organization started were Protestants. They perceived Catholicism as a threat to their religion and detested it. Therefore, in addition to the blacks and their sympathizers, people belonging to the catholic faith became part of the target for the Ku Klux Klan.

The Klan’s ideologies are based on several beliefs that range from religious, political, anti-Semitic to racial beliefs (Newton, 2010). Each one of these beliefs forms a basis upon which the organization bases its actions and rationale for its activities.

Politically, the Klan believes that non-whites and especially immigrants threaten their existence. Therefore, it is their responsibility to remove the threat directly or through government action. Moreover, the Klan views the government as its enemy because of their twisted perception that the government takes sides with the minorities. There are specific issues that have become a concern for the clan members, which include foreign aid, free trade, racial purity, gay rights and gun control. The group perceives these issues as unconstitutional and alienating from church values. The group puts specific emphasis on the slogan, ‘‘America for, by and of whites’’, rendering it extremely anti-immigration. From the political perspective, members of this group feel a strong sense of security because they believe that when their war will be won, their lives will become better because there will be no more competition from non-whites. They feel that they will be able to control their country and restore law and order. Consequently, they will inherit the leadership of their country, which rightfully belongs to them. Although this political belief makes them feel strongly secure, there are points of weakness in the belief that may make them feel less secure. The fact that they are fighting against the government with machinery and manpower may make them feel a bit insecure. Historically, they have persisted in their political fight, but victory remains elusive. This may weaken their sense of security in clinging to the belief.

Initially, the clan’s religious belief was based on very conservative protestant beliefs. However, the Klan has undergone some changes in it religious beliefs especially from the 1970s. Since this period, many of the sub-groups constituting the Klan have adopted fundamentalist protestant beliefs. Others have taken up Christian identity while some have Christian Identity.

The Christian identity is a sect that is characterized by extreme anti-Semitism and racism (Ryan, 2009). Their main beliefs are that the white people claim a descent from the lost tribes of Israel and that the Jews descend from Satan. Moreover, adherents of this sect believe that other non-whites are at the same spiritual level with animals. Following their argument, blacks and other non-whites do not have souls and, therefore, have no claim for equality before the law. The Jews are viewed as the root of all evils since the sect believes they came from Satan. The fundamentalists believe that the end of the world is near and will purify the earth. They consider Jews and non-whites as impurities who will be wiped out of the world during their final battle. This religious belief induces a sense of security to the members of the Klan. The belief assures them that they are God’s chosen people and their course is blessed and in line with prophesies. This makes the members become more convinced that despite them challenges and opposition from the government, they are on the right course.

At its initial stages, the organization propagated actions that were meant to defend the white Americans from Catholics and Jews (Robb, 2001). However, the war against Catholics faded away while that against the Jews intensified. The Klan perceived the Jews as a hidden force that manipulated all systems including the government, banking sector, and education system. The group, therefore, took responsibility of defending the rights of the white Americans against manipulation by the Jews. Members of the Klan believe that all sectors of their lives are controlled by the Jews including law making. The members believe that everything they hate in the United States is actually caused and controlled by the hidden power of the Jews. This belief provides the Klan members with a strong sense of security. They feel that it is their duty to protect the white Americans against the manipulative hands of the Jews. This further justifies their violence and hatred towards the Jews. The presence of Jews in many aspects of American lives has solidified their claims about their manipulation of American lives. A point of weakness in this belief is that members know that not all sectors are controlled by the Jews and that their claim may not be totally valid.

In terms of race the Klan believes that the African Americans are the source of many crimes in America (SPLC, 2002). The group has gone further to argue that African Americans are rapists of white women. Moreover, they believe that African Americans are drug users who destroy the society through violence. The Klan blames the whites’ failure to advance in their careers on reverse discrimination against the whites. This discrimination is viewed in several areas such as minority scholarships and affirmative action. This belief is very attractive especially to the middle and lower class white Americans struggling to make ends meet. The weakness in this belief is that there are many white Americans using drugs and committing crimes such as rape.

Weaknesses that characterize Ku Klux Klan can be exploited in a variety of ways. The fact that that Klan members feel less secure in the group because they are against the government with many resources can be used to persuade them to abandoned their course. The government can capitalize on their doubt on whether then can defeat it and convince them that they have no chance of succeeding.

Many sects brainwash members so that they cannot think critically and autonomously and the Klan is not different. Members of the Klan are brainwashed to think that Jews own and control all sectors of the American life. The weakness in thinking life in America is controlled by the Jews can be utilized through appealing to members to think critically and independently. By thinking critically, they can realize that many aspects of American life are actually controlled by white Americans.

Racially, white Americans in the Klan are convinced that the African Americans are the cause of all crimes in America (White Kamelia Knights, 2005). This has been planted in their thinking process, but it is fallacious thinking. This is a weakness in the belief system that can be exploited by the government. The government can use crime data that shows unbiased information concerning involvement of all races in crime.

Conclusion

In conclusion, belief systems of Ku Klux Klan are full of brainwashing and fallacious thinking. They have been designed to appeal to white Americans struggling to make ends meet. The belief system promises to solve those problems and provides a framework for solving them. However, the framework is not factual and only appeals to the subjective part of its members.

References

Lee, C. (2005). Christian identity. Retrieved October 18, 2005, from
www.wckkkk.com/eql.html

Newton, M. (2010). The Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi: A History. New Jersey, NJ: McFarland.

Ryan, P.L. (2009). The Boys of Birmingham. New York, NY: P. L. Ryan.

Robb, T. (2001). Church of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://nationalknights.org

SPLC. (2002). Intelligence report, fall 2002. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from www.
splcenter.org/intel/ intelreport/article.jsp?sid=36

White Kamelia Knights (WKK). (2005). Why the Klan? Retrieved October 18, 2005,
from www.kkkk.net/kluddkomment/121502.htm

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