A White Shroud Of Cowardice Essay - 2594 Words

A White Shroud of Cowardice White hoods. Fire. Hatred. Lynching. A faceless army has been quietly growing in the heart of the United States of America. The KKK, or Ku Klux Klan is often known for its violent racist attacks on others, but what is often unbeknownst is that the Ku Klux Klan has been reincarnated three times, each with a slightly different goal in mind. The first Klan was primarily focused on race, targeting black political movements, and undermining black civil rights however, something different occurred during the conception of the second Klan. The second Klan, while also racially motivated, also gained a newfound hatred. It developed the need to spread its corrupted Protestant beliefs to others, and persecute any conflicting religions, especially Roman Catholics. They were an army bred with a hatred and prejudice for all things that did not meet its twisted Protestant beliefs or share the same skin color as it. The Ku Klux Klan is notorious for its persecution of Afr ican Americans in the south, but their corrupted protestant belief system is what allows them to justify their acts of violence as cleansing and protection of their race and religion. History of the Klan To analyze the second incarnation of the Klan it is crucial to understand the roots of the entire group which originated in 1865 with the first Klan. The Klan started off innocently enough, as Kuklos, a group of six college kids who enjoyed the night life and found entertainment in putting on