The ku klux klan today is not as much the heavy hitters they used to be, in the particular article Im reading the organization is far removed from their pre-existing group. The original ku klux klan disbanded when its supposed purposed was done and the current organization that resides under that name is uses the name but is not in anyway connected to the one before in the article it states that “This theft was designed to advertise the upstart organization; in this it has been successful. Among Southerners a romantic tradition of patriotism and terrible justice hallows the memory of the old Klan” with this excerpt from the article it helps show the differences of the two organizations despite sharing of the name. Basically the new group is profiting off of the old organization. 

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1922/07/the-modern-ku-klux-klan/537081/   

From another article it says that the Ku Klux Klan has been getting involved in demonstrations of violence, admitting new members and burning swastikas and the cross.  The KKK is now solely made and focused for bigots and racist white people along with some white-passing people  who still believe that the difference in the amount of melanin their skin produces somehow makes them superior to others. Unfortunately the KKK is involved with another problematic group that also uses the clout of their previous owners of the name to piggy-back as well. The organization is called the neo-nazis; neo meaning new. This organizations primary focus is the same as the KKK to a slightly different degree, the want Adolf hitlers regimes back and to have Aryans as proclaimed as the purest race. 

To top it all of the article states that they have joined forces and now are in cahoots together hence the nazi salute and swastika being added to some of the KKK rallies. I think both of the groups just like attention and the idea of people being scared thought they have no real power other than spreading these days is look “intimidating”/ Dumb on the news and internet. It only saddens me because these people spread these hateful ideologies to their children and those who are seeking community and belonging and end up in the wrong place out of wanting to belong. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-kkk-today/3/

The Ku Klux Klan in history and today

https://www.magnumphotos.com/newsroom/the-modern-ku-klux-klan/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2017-08-14/the-kkk-is-still-based-in-22-states-in-the-us-in-2017

Today, the KKK has reached the largest number of organizations in its history since being founded. In 2015 there were 190 organizations with between 8,000-10,000 per organization. Apparently, though there are the most organizations they’ve had, the number of members in each organization is “small and marginal with little political or social influence.” In three years leading up to 2017, half of the newest klan members joined. forty-two separate klan organizations were active in twenty-two different states in 2017. regarding their most recent activities, the KKK just holds small rallies and protests in parks, courthouses, and at LGBTQA+ pride marches. As well as promised marches that fail to occur. They continue their cross-lighting, burning rituals. Late president Trump called the KKK out in a speech of his saying “Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.” The KKK definitely held a lot more “power” and fear over African, Jewish, and Hispanic Americans back in the civil rights moment era than they do present day. The Ku Klux Klan Act was designed to eliminate extralegal violence and protest the civil and political rights of four million freed slaves.

I genuinely find it disturbing and disgusting that the KKK is still active in many states and has yet to be eradicated. Whether they pose as a giant threat or not, just knowing about their history should be enough for the entire organization and practice to be illegal. I really thought they had burnt out, basically completely. I’m more shocked that there hasn’t been more done to mitigate the entire organization altogether. I believe more acts and bills need to be enforced to completely wipe out the KKK and its history.

Today the Klu Klux Klan is still around. The members are not as open and active as they were back then but that does not mean that they are all gone. I feel that Klu members will be around as long as racism is around and as long as there is someone to teach the ways of the Klan. Klan members today may not stroll up and down the street in their white hoods with weapons but that does not mean that the world of free from them. Many say that the Klan was fueled by the election of Donald Trump. There are said to be around 8,000 members still around today. Isn’t that crazy? There was a rally in 2017 where many members of the KKK along with neo-Nazis and white nationalists attacked a group of protestors.

The members now do not compare to the members back then because their actions today are much more on the “legal” side. Their actions today are more towards protesting and speaking their minds rather than killing people just because they can. Klu members back then were much more violent and did not care who got in their way because they were going to do what they wanted anyway. I am not going to say that I am happy with how the Klan members act today but I am happy that they are less violent. There are many instances where people act like KKK members as a joke or because they think it will get them views on social media.

The Ku Klux Klan are located mainly on the East Coast, primarily in the south. The are 42 different groups on Klan members in the United States. This is not surprising as this is where the groups originated. On the list there are a few northern states including Maine but there are minimal groups occupying the area.

Some activités that the Klan are involved in today are still wrong in my eyes. They spread Racist and Anti-semitic fliers to residential doorsteps. This is trying to spread the word of their so called religion now. They want more groups of people to join them because they are still the believers in segregation. These people do not just hate black people but they hate Japanese people and Jewish people as well. These groups also holds rallies and protests, for example when the Robert E. Lee state was taken down many groups across the nation came together to protest this removal. However to some other groups like then White Supremicist group they are seen as too radical and will not gain their support for any of their involvements.

The Ku Klux Klan today is much different than the Klan of the Civil Rights Movement. This is because the Klan today will not harm a single individual. This is because they cannot get away with it as the police today will not favor them over a free citizen. Klan members back then would burn houses, bomb churches, and murder innocent people all because of their race. Back then the Klan was not as much a religion as it was a terrorist group. In today’s world this group practices its effort in the same way as a religion. Today’s Ku Klux Klan is not nearly as dangerous as the Klan of the Civil Rights movement. In today’s world the Ku Klux Klan is split up by so called legions where as the Klan back then was one big group just spread out. I believe they are not a threat so much as terrible people who were raised by former Klan members and this “religion” will dissolve in the coming years.

The March books refer to the KKK frequently. And we all know that the Klan did horrible things to good people during the civil rights movement. They were cruel at their best and murderers at their worst. But let’s set aside the civil rights movement for this post. I want you to think about Now.

• Where is the KKK today?
• What types of activities are they involved in?
• How do they compare to the Klan during the civil rights movement?

I think you might be surprised at the information you learn. Be sure to look at the credibility of the information you are reading and speak to whether or not you believe it is credible. Uncomfortable doing this research on you own browser? Use an incognito browser to give you some protection against being tracked.

On June 21, 1964, three civil rights workers named Mickey Schwerner, Andy Goodman, and James Chaney were murdered in Neshoba County. The civil rights workers had gone to Neshoba to investigate the burning of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. The Lauderdale County unit, Neshoba County unit, and Ku Klux Klan murdered the three activists, then buried them. Now the real question is who was Mickey Schwerner, Andy Goodman, and James Chaney?
Mickey Schwerner was born on November 6th, 1939, in New York City. Mickey Schwerner was a white Jewish-American civil rights activist. Mickey graduated Cornell University in 1961, and later become a social worker in Manhattan. June 1962 Mickey married Rita Levant and they joined the Congress on Racial Equality the next year together.
Andrew Goodman was born on November 23, 1943, in New York City. Andrew Goodman was a white American civil rights activist. People described Andrew as a smart student with an innate kindness and a strong commitment towards social activism. Andrew’s parents were supporters of equality and social justice which influenced Andrew to become involved in social and political activism at a youthful age. Andrew volunteered to take part in the Freedom Summer campaign to register Black people to vote in Mississippi, where he met James Chaney, and Mickey Schwerner.
James Chaney was born on May 30, 1943, in Meridian, Mississippi. James Chaney’s parents ingrained a keen sense of racial pride into him at an early age. In 1959 James and his friends were suspended from school for wearing buttons that condemned the local chapter of NAACP for not acting on racial issues. Chaney was expelled a year later for a similar incident, then went to work with his father as a plasterer. 1963 Chaney joined the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
These three men were murdered for fighting for human rights. Their bodies were recovered from Earthen Dam by the FBI on August 4, 1964. I would join a movement that has great meaning to me, even if it risked my life. I would be sticking up for what I believe in, and what others like me believe in.

Michael Schwerner            Andrew Goodman                 James Chaney

Resources: 

• “James Chaney Fought for Civil Rights – African American Registry.” African American Registry, 2019, aaregistry.org/story/james-chaney-fought-for-civil-rights/.
• “Andrew Goodman.” Thefamouspeople.com, 2011, www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/andrew-goodman-4617.php.
• “Michael Schwerner Dared to STAND – African American Registry.” African American Registry, 2011, aaregistry.org/story/michael-schwerner-dared-to-stand/.
• “The Murder of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner – MS Civil Rights Project.” Mscivilrightsproject.org, 2019, mscivilrightsproject.org/neshoba/event-neshoba/the-murder-of-chaney-goodman-and-schwerner/.
• Image- Simkin, John. “Michael Schwerner.” Spartacus Educational, 2016, spartacus-educational.com/USAschwerner.htm.
• Image- “James Chaney Was One of Three Civil Rights Workers Who Were Killed By…” Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/james-chaney-was-one-of-three-civil-rights-workers-who-were-news-photo/514682504. Accessed 28 Oct. 2022.
• Image- Birthday, Today. “Andrew Goodman Biography, Age, Weight, Height, Friend, Like, Affairs, Favourite, & Other.” Today Birthday, 10 June 2017, todaybirthday.in/andrew-goodman-biography-age-weight-height-friend-like-affairs-favourite-birthdate-other/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2022.