FREE ESSAY ON RACISM: KU KLUX KLAN, NEO NAZIS, ARYAN NATIONS

RACISM: KU KLUX KLAN, NEO NAZIS, ARYAN NATIONS

Ku Klux Klan. Neo Nazis. The Aryan Nations. The American Nazi
Party. What are these groups? Why are they present in a land of 
supposed equality of all men? They are there because there are 
millions of Americans that believe in their message of white 
pride. The African American population is growing and Americans 
are now a mixed group of people. Black people are white people's 
neighbours, doctors, friends. With a growing unity between the 
two races, why does racism continue? The answer is simple. 
Racists from many years ago raise their kids in clans and white 
supremacy groups and teach them the ways of hatred. These kids 
grow up brain-washed that black people are their enemies and, 
taught by example, will continue this trend (The Volume Library; 
1988).
The Ku Klux Klan has been around since the end of the civil war.
It is a roller coaster of a history. From extreme power, to 
rapid decline, and slow reemergence (Software Toolworks 
Encyclopedia; 1992). The clan, who is notorious for its violence, 
has a relatively innocent beginning. It was formed from some 
veterans from the confederate army and was first called the 
Kuklos Clan which, in Greek, meant Circle Clan. 
One person thought it would be a good idea to call it the Ku 
Klux Klan as a parody of the fraternity names which always had 
three Greek alphabet letters in it. They created the Clan to be 
mischievous and to do it without anyone knowing who they were 
which accounts for their costumes and masks. They, like most 
whites, were upset that the black people were free because black 
people were a constant reminder of the bitter defeat of the 
South. So to have fun they terrorized black people. Eventually
the group grew, fluctuating, but grew to become the first white 
supremacy group in America and with that growth, their hatred 
grew as well into what was seen in the early and middle 1900's 
and what is seen today. 
Along with the KKK, other anti-black, pro-white groups formed 
and stemmed out all over the U.S.A. The Neo Nazis who are more 
commonly know by the term Skin Heads, are a growing force in 
hate groups. There hatred of Hispanics, Jews, Blacks, and 
others are now the fastest growing force in America. The Skin 
Head movement is usually done by the younger kids. These kids 
are drawn to the Aryan Nations and Neo Nazis by the promise of 
free drugs, free booze, heavy metal music, ultimate freedom and 
rebellion. A lot of these kids stay because of family troubles 
at home and, like in a gang, feel like they have a family with 
the group and feel loved. The skinheads are a family...
A lot of us don't have what you'd call a home commented Joshua, 
who is a 16 year old recruiter in California (United They Hate; 
Michael Kronenwetter).
The race war was in full force by the 1960's. With the growth 
of white supremacy and their groups, black too had a weapon. 
Martin Luther King Jr. lead his people to march in Washington to 
end segregation and to form black unity for an equal and better 
America. Malcolm X, who was a Muslim, may have come from a 
different religion than his Christian counterpart, but had a very 
similar message and a similar fate. Both were assassinated.
Today the hate groups of America have spread into Canada and are
particularly common in Manitoba. The major sects are of the same 
name as their American cousins with a very similar message.
Racism, despite much opposition, will never end. As long as
there is fighting among a Jew and a Palestinian or hatred between 
a white and a black, Racism will be there. Only a utopian 
society can achieve such a dream. It is in human nature to have 
a few people that do not understand or possibly hate those who 
are different but, in fact, we are not different, we are 
judgmental and we are discriminatory, we segregate. We are 
unique individuals but among races we are equal and the same.
Bibliography
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live 
in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their 
skin but by the content of their character 
(Martin Luther King Jr.)