History and Impact of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States

What are the origins and objectives of the KKK?

The Ku Klux Klan is best known as the KKK, an acronym that groups together several past and present secret paramilitary organizations operating in the United States, whose aim is to protect the rights and interests of the white

race. First founded in 1865 with the purpose of restoring white supremacy after the American Civil War, its militants wore white robes, masks and conical has to hide their identities.

Actions and Targets of the KKK

They openly preached racism and opposed the Civil

Rights Movement and black voting by violence and terrorism. The targets of their actions - ranging from attacks on private houses to lynchings (which means the act of killing someone, considered guilty of a crime, without a

regular trial, usually by hanging) and murders - were mainly African American , Jews, and other minorities, in their view "guilty" of aspiring to equal status and rights.

Current Presence of the KKK

Although illegal since 1870, KKK still exists today as a small hate groups active all over USA with an estimated number of 5,000 - 8,000 members who have recently taken up such issues as illegal immigration and same-sex marriages.

I, TOO, Sing America

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.