The Ku Klux Klan - A Secret History (History Channel)
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Movie Reviews of The Ku Klux Klan - A Secret History (History Channel)
Movie Review: Very informative!
Summary: 5 Stars
Package arrived in two days! Very nice. Content of DVD was factual, only slighly biased and very informative for races, creeds and religions. Movie Review: Great Documentary on the Terrible Hate Group
Summary: 4 Stars
---an excellent historical account on the history of the ku klux klan, america's most enduring 'hate' group, and effectively the longest lasting 'terrorist' outfit..
The documentary traces the groups roots to the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, when the resentful, reactionary elements of various white communities saw fit to end any notion of political and economic equality for blacks newly freed in by the Emancipation proclamation. Virtually nothing was beneath them in terms of how far they were willing to go to achieve their goals: vandalism, arson, theft, kidnapping, assaults, and most of all, murder.
The core Klan membership at its initial onset was quasi-Pagan/quasi-Masonic in its philosophies (i.e., the Skulls & Bones fraternity), but that eventually evolved by the turn of the 20th century to using fundamentalist evangelical Christianity as a recruitment tactic, targeting anyone from a WASP background as a potential member, while also now incorporating Jews and Catholics on their list of enemies (early 20th century immigration by Irish, Italian, Poles, and Eastern Europeans contributed to reactionary fears among the "established" white Americans).
Marketed as a men's social club no different than the Elks, Masons, or other groups, the Klan had widespread national membership by the first few decades of the 20th century. By the early 1920's, avowed members had achieved real political power in the State of Indiana-- the governor and most of state board of legislature were members of the Klan. A heinous murder and rape of a politician's mistress caused a scandal that sent shockwaves throughout the organization; dossiers on documented bribes & blackmails were revealed, and national board members were internally charged with financial impropriety.
This led to a splintering of the Klan into regional factions that has virtually continued until the present day.
Still existing to varying degrees in the contiguous USA, the most prominent factions emerged from the American South as the American Civil Rights Movement got momentum in the 1950's. white attacks against blacks became even more brazen than before, only during the televised confrontations this was perhaps the first time it was visually documented in any form.
existing Footage is seen of klan leaders and other segregationists; US historians are interviewed as are historical and contemporary civil rights activists.
As the documentary reveals, from the dawn of the Reagan administration, the Klan morphed its image yet again; self-identified KKK members are (at least officially) barely a few thousand in number; however, their philosophical ken now largely exist in the ranks of the far-right "Patriot" militia movements and the youth-heavy white-supremacist 'Skinhead' culture.
The documentary could have benefited from more interview footage from the persons involved; and little attention is given to the post-Klan movements like the militias/skinheads, etc. Still, this is an effective work.
Movie Review: KuKlux Klan
Summary: 4 Stars
Fine history, all Americans should be aware of the travesties of errors made in the treatment of Blacks/African-American in this supposed best country.
(I was born in and now live, retired, in North Dakota. I have traveled to
Wahington DC over 10 times for at least a week per visit. in the 1980s. I was a nursing home administrator in Milwaukee, WI and had more that 250 blacks work with, not FOR, me. I have been in gatherings of black folks where I was the only white male and I was as safe as walking down the street of Dickinson, ND. Just today, I complimented a Black nurse at the nursing home where my Dad is well cared for. I had observed her behavior of caring previouly but had not the chance to thank her. Which I did and told her of the fine folks I worked with in Milwaukee and that seeing her made my lonesome.)
I fail to know how I would have responded to the oppression of the Blacks, had I been born one. Being 1/2 German and the rest from Ireland in 1498, I KNOW that I cannot understand another culture, but I can appreciate it/ LEE
Movie Review: Compelling view of racism and ignorance
Summary: 5 Stars
As a white Irish-Catholic, I remember stories that my dad, a member of the Knights of Columbus, told me about the K of C. Long before my lifetime, in the 1920s', the KKK had reached its pinnacle of power. While African-Americans were the most common targets of their hate crimes, they also made it clear that Jews, Catholics and foreigners were also in their cross-hairs. My dad explained that one of the reasons that the K of C grew both large and influential was, among other reasons, to combat the power of the Klan. They recognized the threat that they were to all decent Americans and worked to limit their power. My own perception of the KKK and others of their ilk, are of an ignorant and backward group of losers who seek to elevate their own perceived importance at the expense of others who they hold as inferior. This documentary shows today's Klan for what it is--poor white trash who would rather try to hold others back then raise themselves out of their own cesspool of crudity and ignorance. I was surprised that current members allowed themselves to be filmed for this documentary as it showed Americans how really dumb they are and reinforces why they deserve our contempt. Movie Review: Documentary?
Summary: 3 Stars
The production is interesting because the subject is. But in all honesty, it's not a documentary project.
How can one document.... without exploring firsthand accounts of those in the movement?
If you want to feel hate for the Klan, this is your DVD, if you want to honestly explore the issue, you will be disappointed.
Groups like the Klan, the Black Panthers and others that use race as the centerpiece will always be with us.
It's a shame this flick missed the opportunity to see not only the crimes costumes and violence but the "why".
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