I recall my one and only conversation with my paternal grandfather about
his membership in the KKK. I was in my early teens and I had made some
disparaging remark about the Klan and my grandfather told me he had once
been a member. He went on to say that he got out of it when them durn
radicals took over. He did not elaborate on who them durned radicals
were or why he didn't like them, but he did go on to give a brief
description of what the Klan was like when he was in it. Apparently
Black people were not the main target in the West Virginia KKK. Their
target was mainly white people and they acted as the morality police. As
he put it, when some no account lazy ass guy laid around getting drunk
and wouldn't take care of his family the Klan would go to have a talk
with him and then he would usually straighten up because he knew the
Klan was watching him. My grandfather did not say what would happen if
he didn't straighten up, but that part about his changing his behavior
because he knew the Klan was watching him sounds rather ominous to me.
Black people did not seem to be on their radar screen to any significant
extent. Now, I know that there are numerous groups that claim to be the
true Ku Klux Klan and I don't know which one he belonged to, but I do
think the focus of the different Kluxer groups varies. I was about
nineteen when my grandfather died and all the way up until that time he
pretty much regarded me as a kid and from his perspective one did not
bother to talk about serious things like politics or social issues with
a kid. He was also rather taciturn about certain subjects too. For
example, he had a real problem with attending church and with organized
religion, but he never elaborated on that much even though I think I can
take some educated guesses about what turned him against religion. But
it was that taciturnity about religion that I think was largely
responsible for my having grown up in such a secular family that I
didn't know about god until I started to school. That was just one
example though. He was rather taciturn about a lot of things including
his views on social issues. Nevertheless, though, comments would slip
out now and then and even though it was slow in coming I think I
eventually realized that he had a lot of views that were in agreement
with the KKK. He didn't like Jews, but since he never mentioned Jews it
was a long time before I found that out. There were comments now and
then that let me know that he had rather regressive ideas about Black
people too. When I was about fourteen years old there was a candidate
for mayor that I liked. Honestly, the fact that he was Black did not
even enter my considerations. That is why I was so surprised when I told
my grandfather who I favored and he was so aghast. There are certain
phrases that I had only known as phrases used to make fun of racists
that I didn't even realize that real people really used and suddenly my
grandfather was using them in all seriousness. They're alright if they
stay in their place. Obviously running for political office was not in
their place. He said that he never thought a grandson of his would turn
against his own race. And so forth. I was absolutely incredulous that he
was actually saying those things. Anyway, it was some years after he
died that I was watching a television show on which West Virginia
history was being discussed and they started talking about the KKK.
Their description of how the KKK operated in West Virginia did match my
grandfather's description. I don't know that that means that it was a
milder form of the KKK though. Morality police rather appall me too.
On 8/25/2016 6:36 AM, joe harcz Comcast wrote:
The KKK has a long history in Indiana. They literally ran the state in the 1920's owning politicians to the governor's office until a huge scandel hit their leader...A rape, tortue and murder scandel.
And even in 1973 when I lived in Elkhart briefly ttheir was an attempted cross burning at a small RV factory in a mixed industrial and residential neighborhood I was living in at the time. I say attempted because the couldn't get the cross on fire. It was only one half block from where I was living.
Some friends and I actually took the cross down and drove it in to the Elkhart Truth, the local newspaper. They didn't even care to write a story about it.
That was more than a demonstration. It was an attempted act of domestic terrorism for you see the company had an integrated workforce, and the KKK didn't like that.
I applaud you though Kevin for wanting to throw rocks at Goliath and wish you all the best in those regards.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Kevin LaRose <mailto:kl1964@xxxxxxxxxx>
*To:* blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Wednesday, August 24, 2016 3:24 PM
*Subject:* [blind-democracy] KKK is Not OK!
Yesterday I learned that the KKK is planning to hold a rally at
our county courthouse next month. Needless to say, I was beyond
outraged. I want to figure out some way to get my posterior down
there to protest their very existence. I have been unpleasantly
surprised by the very muted response to this event locally.
Reactions I have seen range from garden variety indifference to
curiosity. Some people just want to go watch it as spectators! I
guess that shouldn't surprise me, voyeuristic society that we have
become. But still, where is the outrage? I can't go along with
those who say just ignore them. In my mind ignoring is tantamount
to acquiescence, and that's just wrong. One thing's for sure, the
KKK activity is causing me to rethink my stance of not voting for
Hillary. After all, the KKK is AOK with Trump.
Kevin LaRose
Anderson, IN
Email: kl1964@xxxxxxxxxx
