Birmingham 1963Birmingham 1963

(And the KKK)(And the KKK)

English 12 African HeritageEnglish 12 African Heritage

Birmingham Alabama in the Birmingham Alabama in the 60s60s

KKK strongholdKKK stronghold

America’s “most America’s “most racist” city (MLK)racist” city (MLK)

What is the KKK?What is the KKK?

What is the KKK?What is the KKK? Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is the name of a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is the name of a

secret organization in the United secret organization in the United States, mostly in the South, that is States, mostly in the South, that is best known for advocating white best known for advocating white supremacy and acting as vigilantes supremacy and acting as vigilantes while hidden behind conic masks and while hidden behind conic masks and white robes. The first KKK was white robes. The first KKK was formed after the Civil War. formed after the Civil War.

The KKK uses terrorism, violence, and The KKK uses terrorism, violence, and lynching to intimidate and oppress lynching to intimidate and oppress African Americans, Jews as well other African Americans, Jews as well other racial and religious minorities.racial and religious minorities.

What’s in a Name?What’s in a Name?The original Ku Klux Klan was The original Ku Klux Klan was

created in the aftermath of the created in the aftermath of the American Civil War by six American Civil War by six middle-class Confederate middle-class Confederate veterans on December 24, veterans on December 24, 1865. They made up the name 1865. They made up the name by combining the Greek by combining the Greek "kyklos" (circle) with "clan.” "kyklos" (circle) with "clan.”

Variations on a ThemeVariations on a Theme

The Klan will never be accused of The Klan will never be accused of not sticking to their KL theme. not sticking to their KL theme. They meet in “Klaverns”, their They meet in “Klaverns”, their holy book is the “Kloran”, they holy book is the “Kloran”, they refer to their soldiers as refer to their soldiers as “klavaliers” and they engage in “klavaliers” and they engage in “klonversations.” I’m not “klonversations.” I’m not kidding. kidding.

Terrorist OrganizationTerrorist Organization A federal grand jury in 1869 A federal grand jury in 1869

determined the Klan was a "terrorist determined the Klan was a "terrorist organization." It issued hundreds of organization." It issued hundreds of indictments for crimes of violence and indictments for crimes of violence and terrorism. This pushed the Klan further terrorism. This pushed the Klan further underground. Duringunderground. During

this time, other white this time, other white

supremacist groups formed.supremacist groups formed.

Interestingly, the Interestingly, the National National

Rifle Association (NRA) Rifle Association (NRA) was was

formed at this time as well.formed at this time as well.

Second Incarnation of the Second Incarnation of the KlanKlan

1915 – 1915 – Birth of a Nation Birth of a Nation releasedreleased Film spurs a new incarnation of the KKK, Film spurs a new incarnation of the KKK,

initially formed in Georgiainitially formed in Georgia Anti-Semitic, Anti-Catholic, Anti-Anti-Semitic, Anti-Catholic, Anti-

immigrationimmigration

Birth of a Nation - Birth of a Nation - 19151915 Director D. W. Griffith's Director D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Birth of a

Nation Nation glorified the original Klan. glorified the original Klan. His film was based on the play His film was based on the play The ClansmanThe Clansman by Thomas Dixon. by Thomas Dixon. Dixon said his purpose was "to Dixon said his purpose was "to revolutionize northern sentiment revolutionize northern sentiment by a presentation of history that by a presentation of history that would transform every man in my would transform every man in my audience!" The film created a audience!" The film created a nationwide Klan craze. (KLRAZE?!) nationwide Klan craze. (KLRAZE?!) At the official premiere in Atlanta, At the official premiere in Atlanta, members of the Klan rode up and members of the Klan rode up and down the street in front of the down the street in front of the theatre in their hoods. theatre in their hoods.

The StoryThe Story Birth of a Nation Birth of a Nation is a psychotically racist is a psychotically racist

film film It chronicles the founding of the USIt chronicles the founding of the US It blames all of America’s problems on It blames all of America’s problems on

African AmericansAfrican Americans It portrays African Americans as violent, It portrays African Americans as violent,

sexually voracious and the root all evilsexually voracious and the root all evil All African AmericanAll African American

characters in the film werecharacters in the film were

played by whites in played by whites in

blackface.blackface.

First ScreeningFirst Screening The first screening of the film was at The first screening of the film was at

the White House…yes, that White the White House…yes, that White HouseHouse

President Woodrow Wilson supported President Woodrow Wilson supported the messages of the film. Yes, the messages of the film. Yes, Woodrow Wilson…as in the Woodrow Wilson…as in the League of League of NationsNations. .

LynchingLynching

MobsMobs Hanging, burning, beating to deathHanging, burning, beating to death Mob justiceMob justice 1880s – 1970s – Nearly 3500 1880s – 1970s – Nearly 3500

lynchings of African Americanslynchings of African Americans Without SanctuaryWithout Sanctuary

Without SanctuaryWithout Sanctuary

Postcards of Postcards of lynchingslynchings

Not accessible in Not accessible in schoolschool

James AllenJames Allen Youtube Youtube VideoVideo

(Warning: Images (Warning: Images are GRAPHIC)are GRAPHIC)

Alabama Governor George Alabama Governor George WallaceWallace

““You know why I You know why I lost that governor's lost that governor's race?... I was race?... I was outniggered by outniggered by John Patterson. And John Patterson. And I'll tell you here I'll tell you here and now, I will and now, I will never be never be outniggered outniggered again.“again.“

Campaign SloganCampaign Slogan

Segregation now,Segregation now,

Segregation Segregation tomorrow, tomorrow,

Segregation Segregation forever!forever!

George Wallace – Faustian George Wallace – Faustian DealDeal

"You know, I tried to talk about good roads "You know, I tried to talk about good roads and good schools and all these things that and good schools and all these things that have been part of my career, and nobody have been part of my career, and nobody listened. And then I began talking about listened. And then I began talking about niggers, and they stomped the floor.“niggers, and they stomped the floor.“

He made SEGREGATION his major policy, He made SEGREGATION his major policy, and wonand won

Recanted his views on his deathbed – He Recanted his views on his deathbed – He wanted to go to HEAVENwanted to go to HEAVEN

Birmingham 1960sBirmingham 1960s

Bull ConnorBull Connor Chief of PoliceChief of Police Violent RacistViolent Racist Adults were too Adults were too

afraid of him to afraid of him to protestprotest

HosesHoses DogsDogs BombingsBombings

March on Birmingham – Adults March on Birmingham – Adults TerrifiedTerrified

Governor Wallace was a RABID segregationistGovernor Wallace was a RABID segregationist Was quoted in the NY Times calling for “Was quoted in the NY Times calling for “''a ''a

few first-class funerals'' to settle the race few first-class funerals'' to settle the race conflictconflict

Bull Connor was terrifying, and not against Bull Connor was terrifying, and not against using brutal or lethal forceusing brutal or lethal force

MANY children marched on Birmingham MANY children marched on Birmingham insteadinstead

Freedom Riders came in from other statesFreedom Riders came in from other states Became known as “Bomb-ingham”Became known as “Bomb-ingham”

1616thth Street Baptist Church Street Baptist Church In the early morning of Sunday, September In the early morning of Sunday, September

15, 1963, Bobby Frank Cherry, Thomas 15, 1963, Bobby Frank Cherry, Thomas Blanton, Herman Frank Cash, and Robert Blanton, Herman Frank Cash, and Robert Chambliss, members of the Ku Klux Klan, Chambliss, members of the Ku Klux Klan, planted a box of dynamite with a time delay planted a box of dynamite with a time delay under the steps of the church, near the under the steps of the church, near the basement. basement.

At about 10:22 a.m., twenty-six children At about 10:22 a.m., twenty-six children were walking into the basement assembly were walking into the basement assembly room to prepare for the sermon entitled “The room to prepare for the sermon entitled “The Love That Forgives,” when the bomb Love That Forgives,” when the bomb exploded. exploded.

Four Little GirlsFour Little Girls

Four girls, Addie Mae Four girls, Addie Mae Collins (age 14), Collins (age 14), Denise McNair (age Denise McNair (age 11), Carole Robertson 11), Carole Robertson (age 14), and Cynthia (age 14), and Cynthia Wesley (age 14), Wesley (age 14), were killed in the were killed in the attack, and 22 attack, and 22 additional people additional people were injured.were injured.

Not Guilty???Not Guilty??? A witness identified Robert Chambliss, a A witness identified Robert Chambliss, a

member of the Ku Klux Klan, as the man member of the Ku Klux Klan, as the man who placed the bomb under the steps of who placed the bomb under the steps of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

He was arrested and charged with He was arrested and charged with murder and possessing a box of 122 murder and possessing a box of 122 sticks of dynamite without a permit. On sticks of dynamite without a permit. On October 8, 1963, Chambliss was found October 8, 1963, Chambliss was found not guilty of murder and received a not guilty of murder and received a hundred-dollar finehundred-dollar fine and a and a six-month six-month jail sentencejail sentence for having the dynamite. for having the dynamite.

19641964

President Kennedy – HORRIFIED by 16President Kennedy – HORRIFIED by 16thth St. Church BombingSt. Church Bombing

National sympathy for Civil Rights National sympathy for Civil Rights activists in light of the loss of four little activists in light of the loss of four little girlsgirls

1964 – Equal rights guaranteed under 1964 – Equal rights guaranteed under the CIVIL RIGHTS ACTthe CIVIL RIGHTS ACT