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I chose to visit KuKluxKlan.org because I believe
that it would be a starting point for those interested in viewing racist
content on the Internet (another obvious web domain, www.kkk.com, is listed
as under construction). The Klan is recognized as the most prominent hate
group in history. White hoods and cross burnings are typically associated
with the group. They have existed since the end of the civil war (their
population has fluctuated up and down throughout the years) and direct
their hatred against Blacks, Jews, Catholics, homosexuals, immigrants,
and other minorities. The group has a history of violent acts, and in
1997 three Klan members were arrested for plotting to blow up a natural
gas refinery near Fort Worth, Texas. In 1998 another three men associated
with the Klan were arrested for plots to poison water supplies, rob banks,
plant bombs, and commit assassinations. Later that same year, the leader
of the South Carolina chapter of the Klan and several other Klansmen were
arrested for participating in a conspiracy to burn down a Black church.
Many different factions of the KKK exist today,
but they share a common hatred of the groups named above. Group membership
is currently thought to be somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000(1)
.
When Klan websites first began to appear on the Internet, their ideals
and message were significantly toned-down. Instead of being "anti-Black",
they are "pro-White". This toned-down ideology was typical of
what I encountered in my research. Many sites maintained advocated that
the media tries to distort the image of the Klan and depict them as violent,
while they maintain that they are not.
KuKluxKlan.org was an unattractive site. The front page was gaudy and
confusing; there were overlapping headings and tables, making most of
it difficult to read. Upon entering the site, "God Bless America",
automatically starts playing. The entire page reads like a tabloid, with
banner-like links to places such as the gift shop or inviting one to take
a poll. The top of the page has a Bible quote and "White Pride World
Wide" printed at the top.
There is no discussion forum on this website or room for debate with opponents.
The women’s website is the most comprehensive I’ve seen. However,
it does not call for any direct action on the women’s part, rather
it merely contains links to various statements on topics such as how to
raise your kids (praising the virtues of being a stay-at-home mom who
keeps her children away from the evils of society), anti-homosexuality,
and the decline of family values(2).
The website for kids contained a great deal of content compared to most
other hate websites I visited. It contains an extensive question and answer
section which provides answers to questions such as: "What is the
KKK?" and "Are There Women and Kids in the KKK?". There
is a specific link to follow if you have entered the site in order to
do a school report on the KKK. In this section lies the common rhetoric
of the new KKK, where it is asserted that "Your teacher will most
likely give you wrong information against the KKK"(3) and that the group
is not violent, the media merely has distorted their image. There is also
a link to a "Special Message to Young People", which is extremely
long and not a pleasant read.
The website does not easily make its objectives and beliefs clear. While
there are links to statements about their beliefs, they are numerous.
One seeking to obtain an overview of the group is confronted with links
entitled: "FAQ", "Our Vision", "Intro",
"Our Goal", "Platform", and others, making it difficult
for an uninformed visitor to easily gain an impression of the groups goals
and beliefs.
The Klan website also posts a general message about not supporting violence
of any kind. The message then goes on to outline how all Americans have
the right to defend themselves with the use of firearms. Additionally,
the message asserts that the name Ku Klux Klan is public domain, thus
can be associated with anyone, even violent factions. They claim that
if you join their association "…you do not have to worry about
committing a crime"(4) .
Notes:
(1)http://www.adl.org/hate-patrol/kkk.html
(2)http://www.kukluxklan.org/lady4.htm
(3)http://www.kukluxklan.org/kidsdata4.htm
(4)http://www.kukluxklan.org/
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