Birmingham 1963 And the KKK English 12 African

Birmingham 1963 (And the KKK) English 12 African Heritage

Birmingham Alabama in the 60 s n KKK stronghold n America’s “most racist” city (MLK) n What is the KKK?

n Ku What is the KKK? Klux Klan (KKK) is the name of a secret organization in the United States, mostly in the South, that is best known for advocating white supremacy and acting as vigilantes while hidden behind conic masks and white robes. The first KKK was formed after the Civil War.

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

What’s in a Name? The original Ku Klux Klan was created in the aftermath of the American Civil War by six middle-class Confederate veterans on December 24, 1865. They made up the name by combining the Greek "kyklos" (circle) with "clan. ”

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

Terrorist Organization n. A federal grand jury in 1869 determined the Klan was a "terrorist organization. " It issued hundreds of indictments for crimes of violence and terrorism. This pushed the Klan further underground. During this time, other white supremacist groups formed. Interestingly, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was formed at this time as well.

Second Incarnation of the Klan – Birth of a Nation released n Film spurs a new incarnation of the KKK, initially formed in Georgia n Anti-Semitic, Anti-Catholic, Anti-immigration n 1915

Birth of a Nation - 1915 n Director D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation glorified the original Klan. His film was based on the play The Clansman by Thomas Dixon said his purpose was "to revolutionize northern sentiment by a presentation of history that would transform every man in my audience!" The film created a nationwide Klan craze. (KLRAZE? !) At the official premiere in Atlanta, members of the Klan rode up and down the street in front of theatre in their hoods.

The Story n Birth n It of a Nation is a psychotically racist film chronicles the founding of the US n It blames all of America’s problems on African Americans n It portrays African Americans as violent, sexually voracious and the root all evil n All African American characters in the film were played by whites in blackface.

First Screening n The first screening of the film was at the White House…yes, that White House n President Woodrow Wilson supported the messages of the film. Yes, Woodrow Wilson…as in the League of Nations.

Lynching n Mobs n Hanging, burning, beating to death n Mob justice n 1880 s – 1970 s – Nearly 3500 lynchings of African Americans n Without Sanctuary

Without Sanctuary Postcards of lynchings n Not accessible in school n James Allen n Youtube Video (Warning: Images are GRAPHIC) n

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

Campaign Slogan n Segregation now, n Segregation tomorrow, n Segregation forever!

George Wallace – Faustian Deal n "You know, I tried to talk about good roads and good schools and all these things that have been part of my career, and nobody listened. And then I began talking about niggers, and they stomped the floor. “ n He made SEGREGATION his major policy, and won n Recanted his views on his deathbed – He wanted to go to HEAVEN

Birmingham 1960 s n n n n Bull Connor Chief of Police Violent Racist Adults were too afraid of him to protest Hoses Dogs Bombings

March on Birmingham – Adults Terrified n Governor Wallace was a RABID segregationist n Was quoted in the NY Times calling for “''a few first-class funerals'' to settle the race conflict n Bull Connor was terrifying, and not against using brutal or lethal force n MANY children marched on Birmingham instead n Freedom Riders came in from other states n Became known as “Bomb-ingham”

16 th Street Baptist Church n In the early morning of Sunday, September 15, 1963, Bobby Frank Cherry, Thomas Blanton, Herman Frank Cash, and Robert Chambliss, members of the Ku Klux Klan, planted a box of dynamite with a time delay under the steps of the church, near the basement. n At about 10: 22 a. m. , twenty-six children were walking into the basement assembly room to prepare for the sermon entitled “The Love That Forgives, ” when the bomb exploded.

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

Not Guilty? ? ? n. A witness identified Robert Chambliss, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, as the man who placed the bomb under the steps of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. n He was arrested and charged with murder and possessing a box of 122 sticks of dynamite without a permit. On October 8, 1963, Chambliss was found not guilty of murder and received a hundred-dollar fine and a sixmonth jail sentence for having the dynamite.

1964 n President Kennedy – HORRIFIED by 16 th St. Church Bombing n National sympathy for Civil Rights activists in light of the loss of four little girls n 1964 – Equal rights guaranteed under the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT