CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), also known as the Klan or the Invisible Empirehas emerged mostly in Southern states in three different time periods of U.S. history. Each iteration of the group changed slightly to promote their beliefs and values in ways which would attract new members. The group first appeared in the 1865 to the 1870s, during reconstruction after the American Civil War. The group seemed to disappear until the outbreak of World War One in 1914. It continued to be present, mainly in Southern states until 1944 just before the end of World War Two and the last year of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Presidency. Many of the KKK members were opposed to the sweeping New Deal measures put in place during this time period which led to oftentimes violent confrontations with other civilians or law enforcement personnel. There was a resurgence of Klan- related activity beginning with the advent of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950’s which has continued to this day.
Klan movements have targeted—through political rhetoric and violent actions— Black people, immigrants, Catholics, Jews, organized labor, and the LGBTQAI+ community, as part of their white supremacy movement. The most prominent period of Klan activity in Virginia occurred during the 1920s and the 1950s - 1960s when civil rights activism came to the fore.Marshal Robert Kornegay (1928–1975), a North Carolina native, was the United Klans of America Grand Dragon of Virginia from 1965 to 1968. During his tenure the small and mostly inactive Klan of Virginia revitalized and greatly increased membership mostly in Southside Virginia, as a form of backlash to the desegregation of schools and increased civil rights for marginalized communities.
Definition:
Broadsides were posters, announcing events or proclamations, or simply advertisements.
Citation: United Klans of America. Virginia Realm. Learn the truth and the truth shall make you free : Klan rally : come hear the truth!! South Hill, Va. : Virginia Realm, United Klans of America, [1966]. Broadside 1966 .U6 FF, Special Collections, Library of Virginia.
Standards
USII.1, USII.8, VUS.1, VUS.13, VUS.14
Suggested Questions
Preview Activity
Look at It: Look at the broadside, what images are used to convey the message?
Post Activities
Up for Debate: The KKK and other groups have long been a point of contention in terms of freedom of speech. Do you think freedom of speech should be limited against hate speech? Why or why not?
Analyze: Look at the language used on the KKK rally poster. To what extent are inflammatory words and phrases used? In addition, do you find any phrases that relate to belief in conspiracy theories?