Atrocities of the KKK essays

Atrocities of the KKK essays From the early years of American civilization, a racial tension has existed between Whites and African Americans. These feelings of hatred are most likely rooted in the practice of slavery in the 1800s. Many extremist groups have been formed, holding strong opinions regarding these racial issues. The Ku Klux Klan is the largest of these racist organizations. Their purpose is to create a society where the White Aryan population is superior and dominant. They feel that the rights of White Christians are being oppressed in order to give opportunities to other races. They also feel that minorities as a whole in America are draining our resources but not providing for our society in a positive way (Pendergraft 1). The Ku Klux Klan intends to create a sense of pride in American Heritage at the expense of the racial minorities. Throughout history, they have used numerous violent and threatening methods to enforce their position. The Ku Klux Klan members have committed an uncountabl e number of human rights violations over the years and it is the responsibility of American citizens to speak out in order to stop these violent and hateful acts. The Ku Klux Klan began innocently in the years following the Civil War. It was founded in the office of Judge Thomas M. Jones in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1866. The six original members, Captain John C. Lester, Major James R. Crowe, John B. Kennedy, Calvin Jones, Richard Reed and Frank O. McCord, were Confederate veterans searching for amusement in the dull post-war era (Trelease 3). The name Ku Klux Klan was chosen for its mysterious, alliterate sound; and it is derived from the Greek word kuklos meaning band or circle (4). The Klan was founded purely for the amusement of the members, and their early activities were completely irrelevant to the violent and intimidating acts to come. The early Klan members were merely considered pranksters who dressed...