The Leadership of the Ku Klux Klan - Essay Example

The group believes that any agenda other than the white Christian agenda should not be considered nor tolerated in a group that takes great pride in its national heritage and history since its establishment.

The KKK has no definitive headquarters and the group maintains several chapters with differing membership objectives, all across the United States. The New York chapter of the group was founded in 1956 and has thousands of members all across the country. The most unusual element of its membership is that the Ku Klux Klan consists of a wide variety of demographics, from the wealthy and influential to the struggling middle-class citizen. Trends in membership seem to have eroded since the group’s creation in the 1800s, with less activism and violent protest and more subscriptions to KKK newsletters and activity reports. This would suggest that the modern Ku Klux Klan is more about knowledge-sharing and information gathering than it is an active group that promotes violence and hatred.

This group looks toward those individuals who believe in the superiority of the white race and would be willing to provide financial donations to ensure the longevity of the KKK. Though there is evidence that this hate group is experiencing diminished authority by lessened membership and internal/legal struggles (splcenter.org), the Ku Klux Klan continues to plague ethnic citizens in the country as the group continues to insist that white values should reign supreme in the United States.

Despite the negative social outcry which usually forms when individuals in this country hear the group name Ku Klux Klan, it is clear that the group somewhat masks its true intentions by using politically-correct vocabulary to express its agenda. The group appears to understand what terminology to use and specifically how to use it to avoid legal troubles about anti-discrimination laws, suggesting that the KKK is a progressive organization that hopes to endure well into the 21st Century using modern marketing efforts. By avoiding violent protests, they can be left as a special interest group driven not by extensive publicity, but through membership funding. Read More