Klansville USA Today Documentary

 

North Carolina took on the nickname “Klansville, U.S.A'' after a man named Bob Jones revitalized the Ku Klux Klan. Post-American Civil war, confederate soldiers formed the KKK in 1865. They were a violent group that targeted, attacked, or killed African Americans or those who supported them. However, the government overrode the Klan and it began to fall apart in 1871. Through this time period, the KKK did not seem to make much progress. Instead, they gathered in their white costumes, preaching violence and racist ideology against black people.

However, in 1915, the movie, “The Birth of a Nation” was the turning point for the comeback of the Klan. The movie portrayed the KKK as idols who were vital in order to re-establish the South. By 1925, four million Americans took part in the Klan. This movie was admired by many southerners, especially those of low income because they believed that black people were beginning to take over. Therefore, Bob Jones became their voice. 

Bob Jones wanted to stop the progress of the growth of opportunity for African Americans in the south. Jones worked smaller, different jobs with very little education after being emitted from the Navy when he refused to salute an African American officer. He wanted to put a halt to the uprise of African Americans before the change in the south left people like him behind. Being raised in a poor white family and accepting racist beliefs at an early age also expanded his reasons to fight against this progression. By 1963, Jones created what would become the biggest Klan group in America, and he became known as the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. 

As North Carolina’s government desired to continue the slow progression, there were large amounts of unrest in society. Bob Jones wanted to keep building his Klan, while the government wanted to continue paving the way for African Americans. It became a no-win situation. 

I think this documentary was a good representation of helping viewers understand why people would join the Klan in the first place. By no means is this morally justified and I think it is interesting how a movie could spark so much hate that one person would want to revitalize the Klan. However, the south would never be brought back to the racism it held prior to the war. No matter how large the Klan grew, it was not large enough to prevent African Americans from getting what they deserved.