Ku Klux Klan Research Paper
The Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s
The burning cross was crackling in front of the African American’s house as tons of white robed men stood in the blanket of the night and yelled horrible remarks to the people in their homes just because of the color of their skin. This is the group everyone knows as the Ku Klux Klan. Their harsh acts towards African Americans have been the face of the Klan, but in the 1920s, the Klan had different views of people, more than just the color of their skin. The Ku Klux Klan’s intentions in the 1920s were focused on religious and political problems, along with racial discrimination in a very harsh and negative way.
The Ku Klux Klan has had three different time periods of existence. The first time the group was created, it was created by a group of six men: John Lester, Calvin Jones, Richard Reed, James Crowe, Frank McCord, and John Kennedy (Bartoletti 25). Author Susan Bartoletti said, “they came up with the name The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan by ‘Ku Klux’ and ‘Klan’ both meaning ‘band or circle’ ” (25). Each of the six creators had a certain leadership role in the group. Frank McCord was the Grand Cyclops, or the president. John Kennedy was the Grand Magi, or vice president. James Crowe was the Grand Turk, or master of ceremonies. Calvin Jones and John Lester were Night Hawks, or messengers. Finally, Richard Reed was the Lictor,
Lane 2 or guarder of the den (29). The men came across an abandoned, run down, storm worn house that they adopted as their den. Bartoletti states, “it gave off a very eerie feeling that made it even more suiting for the Klan’s meetings” (29). The addition of members was a very humiliating ceremony that consisted of hazing by placing a donkey hat on their head. The new members were sworn to secrecy upon their admittance. As the next summers came along, several dens sprang up along Tennessee and the Klan gradually grew larger. Once the Klan was large enough, they started raiding linen closets to
The burning cross was crackling in front of the African American’s house as tons of white robed men stood in the blanket of the night and yelled horrible remarks to the people in their homes just because of the color of their skin. This is the group everyone knows as the Ku Klux Klan. Their harsh acts towards African Americans have been the face of the Klan, but in the 1920s, the Klan had different views of people, more than just the color of their skin. The Ku Klux Klan’s intentions in the 1920s were focused on religious and political problems, along with racial discrimination in a very harsh and negative way.
The Ku Klux Klan has had three different time periods of existence. The first time the group was created, it was created by a group of six men: John Lester, Calvin Jones, Richard Reed, James Crowe, Frank McCord, and John Kennedy (Bartoletti 25). Author Susan Bartoletti said, “they came up with the name The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan by ‘Ku Klux’ and ‘Klan’ both meaning ‘band or circle’ ” (25). Each of the six creators had a certain leadership role in the group. Frank McCord was the Grand Cyclops, or the president. John Kennedy was the Grand Magi, or vice president. James Crowe was the Grand Turk, or master of ceremonies. Calvin Jones and John Lester were Night Hawks, or messengers. Finally, Richard Reed was the Lictor,
Lane 2 or guarder of the den (29). The men came across an abandoned, run down, storm worn house that they adopted as their den. Bartoletti states, “it gave off a very eerie feeling that made it even more suiting for the Klan’s meetings” (29). The addition of members was a very humiliating ceremony that consisted of hazing by placing a donkey hat on their head. The new members were sworn to secrecy upon their admittance. As the next summers came along, several dens sprang up along Tennessee and the Klan gradually grew larger. Once the Klan was large enough, they started raiding linen closets to