Chapter 7 Outline

Mightier Than the Sword

• 1. Chapter 7 - "Defying the Ku Klux KlanThe"
• The Civil War ended slavery. Despite the Constitution, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendment, peace shined bright in a new struggle that would affect American society and culture for over 100 years. In the South, slavery was transformed into a conflict to free blacks through custom, law, intimidation, and violence. In a sense, the Civil war continued on...just in a new age. The clan started (and didn't end) and would continue to grow for years to come. They were defined as killers and racists. They would emerge with such power that they would even invade politics and scheme their way through the ways of the governmental system, like a sly snake covertly slithering around. The failure to produce the promises they made to their members would be so prominent, yet the numbers continued to increase in the application process.

• 2. Sweeping the Nation
• The Ku Klux Klan emerged in 1866 from Pulaski, Tennessee. They came right out of the law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones as a social movement responding to the end of slavery. Six former rebel soldiers changed the Greek word "kuklos" ("circle or band") to "Ku Klux." Because of fraternity rituals, the clan disguised themselves as spirits to hate on the free black population. They would end up sweeping the nation of its horrific rituals and terrifying morals and vaules. They were human monsters. There would end up being locations of the Klan all around the country. It gave the racist white men of America a reason to live.



This cartoon was taken from Goolge.com (http://fun-brainiac.com/Pics/Funny/KKK/kkk06.JPG). This cartoon is quit funny. It is showing a KKK member shocked by the fact that God is white. The KKK is a racist organization, indication the notion they would never think God is African American.

• 3. The New York World Hurls a Hand Grenade
• The New York World exposing the Ku Klue Klan brought national attention to the operations and actions of the Ku Klux Klan. It published a series of twenty one consecutive daily articles that discussed numerous aspects of the Ku Klux Klan including rituals, recruitment methods, propaganda, and hypocrisies in logic. At least fifteen other newspapers nationwide picked up the coverage, which led to national discourse on the activities of the group. This news media outlet helped break down the strong wall that surrounded the KKK between the people and their identity. This a great example of media doing its part to help this country in desperate need of a hero. The media and journalists of this decade were the heros. They saved the lives of the innocent people, and even the people in the KKK.

• 4. The Commercial Appeal in Hand-to-Hand Combat
• A strong side of the media were the cartoons they printed which clearly illustrated the reasons that words couldn't do due to the illiteracy of most of the American public that didn't have an education. The cartoons exposed the KKK for the frauds that they were by showing how absurd the KKK would go to to show their hatred towards certain parts of the country. The stop to the progression of the KKK showed the might of the newspapers and how much influence they could gather to turning a force of that magnitude around and helping to change the course of American history as the KKK today are considered an afterthought to what they used to be. Thanks to the power of the Newspapers!



This image was taken from Google.com (http://blackchristiannews.com/news/kkk.jpg). This photograph gives you a little insight on what the KKK was all about. They would have secretive meetings in the woods and burn a large statue of the cross. This symbolizes their hatred toward religion, especially Catolicism.

• 5. The Montgomery Advertiser Wages War
• Petrifying, hooded (many seeming to have long moustaches and beards), and clothed in white robes, members of the Klan generally drew members from the lower white classes. Literally casting issues in black or white, with only one race or one form of politics viewed as good or evil, the Klan was able to have a broad appeal. Yet, the power to continue this hatred was in the hands of the Southners, who directed the other classes to the new cause. And so this is exactly how The Montgomery Advertiser depicted these awful characters. They followed right behind The New York World and The Commercial Appeal. These ideas, depictions, cartoons, and articles about the KKK really helped in playing a role in the stoppage of the KKK moving foward. Journalism and media really can change the rhythm of a group, state, person, or even country. This can be seen in this here blog. The media can truly build a solid foundation around this country if they acted like they did toward the KKK. With help from a good supporting cast, wisdom, knowledgle, and the skill to write in a comprehensive and cohesive manner, journalism can change the way history was.



This image was taken from Google.com (http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Politics/Images/ku-klux-klan-salute.jpg). I chose this image because of its disturbing tone. This truly represents all of the KKK. They would hide themselves underneath write garments. It shows the weakness of the Klan. They motto of "hide, kill, and run" defines them as weak people.

• 6 Turning Back the Klu Klux Klan
• We all know the Pulitzer Prize is the greatest prize any journalist can recieve, but the three newspapers that put a severe halt to the defiance of the KKK were not thinking twice about it when covering the KKK. The New York World, Memphis Commercial Appeal, and Montgomery Advertiser were organized and intelligent newspapers that were stirctly about informing. They took their "heart" out when they were on the job and replaced it with discipline and mental toughness. But to them, the highest award was having a positive influence on their communities. This gave the writers and entire staff warmth and comfort. Their passion was recognized by so many, that they were getting the attention of city officals. The connection between the city officals (of all majoy cities) and the three newspapers played a vitol role in the stoppage of the KKK. New York was a popular state within the KKK organization, in cities such as Albany, Buffalo, Schenectady, Syracuse, and Utica. New York City failed to make the list. It scares me to think that these horrific creatures used to lurk own very own New York State! I could never picture this beautiful state of NY being harmed in any way. In any effort, the newspapers had more impact on the Klan than any other force. It really "shows what digging and documenting can do to a seemingly powerful organization" (Rodger Streitmatter, "Mighter Than the Sword" pg. 125).