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 Many people believe the Ku Klux Klan originated in the 1920’s but they have been around since the Civil War ended.  The named “The Ku Klux Klan” came from the Greek word kuklos, which means circle, and the Scottish word meant clan.  The KKK was created by extremely racist people who thought the whites were the superiors of all the races, among these people, was Nathan Bedford Forrest who was originally one of the great Imperial Wizards.  In earlier ages, the KKK weren’t as violent as they evolved into, the cross burning didn’t come about until the 1920’s.

 For the Klansmen, they believed that burning of crosses was just a symbol to show their Christian roots, but to others; it was a symbol of mass intimidation and terror.  The only did this at ceremonies, or when the Imperial Wizards were to give a speech. This spread fear to all minorities in local areas.

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 In 1961 several Klan groups formed the United Klan's of America under Imperial Wizard Robert Shelton. This group quickly became the largest and most violent Klan group of the 1960s. Members of this Klan terrorized blacks and civil workers throughout Alabama with bombings, beatings, and lynching's.

 One thing this group is most known for is the, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing killing four black girls attending Sunday school in  This let black citizens know that this group was not joking about what they were doing.

 The White Knights were a sub group of then major klan. This group was formed under Imperial Wizard, Samuel Bowers.  This group assassinated the former leader of the NAACP. Vernon Dahmer, and also killed three civil black workers. 19 members were suspected, but only seven were convicted.  The White Knights came to be as known one of the most violent groups in the history of the klan.

Some klans use all white robes regardless of rank. For those that use robes of different colors most use:  Purple - Imperial Wizard  Green - Grand Dragon  Reddish-purple - Great Titan  Black - Knighthawk (security)  Red – Kleagle  The Knight hawk's black robe is usually shorter so as to allow easier movement. The Costume of the Ku Klux Klan is perhaps the most distinctive feature of that organization, and is recognized worldwide. It is sometimes known as the 'Glory Suit' by those who wear it.

 In 1915 D. W. Griffith’s movie Birth of a Nation reintroduced America to the Klan.  William J. Simmons declared himself Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and held a cross- burning ceremony on Georgia's Stone Mountain.

 After the klans actions had been televised, citizens became very angry with the klan.  President Eisenhower sent military troops to southern schools to enforce integregation amongst school systems.  Finally, in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which finally gave federal authority with a major tool for fighting against the klan’s actions.

In the late 1970s, Vietnam veteran Louis Beam led a crusade of Klan Intimidation against Vietnamese American fisherman in Texas. Although the Klan today has lost much of its power and support, it still exists. Small pockets of the Klan continue to foster their “100% Americanism” brand of hatred, occasionally engaging in acts of terror and violence.

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