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Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right
The Ku Klux Klan and Freemasonry in 1920s America: Fighting Fraternities
The Second Ku Klux Klan’s success in the 1920s remains one of the order’s most enduring mysteries. Emerging first as a brotherhood dedicated to paying tribute to the original Southern organization of the Reconstruction period, the Second Invisible Empire developed into a mass movement with millions of members that influenced politics and culture throughout the early 1920s. This study explores the nature of fraternities, especially the overlap between the Klan and Freemasonry. Drawing on many previously untouched archival resources, it presents a detailed and nuanced analysis of the development and later decline of the Klan and the complex nature of its relationship with the traditions of American fraternalism.
- GenresNonfiction
212 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2020
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April 27, 2021
Miguel Hernández’ study addresses one of the most glaring, but overlooked, features of the Ku Klux Klan: its role as a fraternity. It also makes several points about the nature of the KKK and its relationship with the Freemasons, thus ascertaining – through detailed analysis – the Klan’s close resemblance to other fraternities of the period and how this resemblance had contributed to the the order’s immense popularity.
In addition, the authors examines why the Freemasons themselves were attracted to the revived KKK and emphasizes the crucial contribution the Klan’s public relations and management made to the organization’s success.
Hernández highlights the importance of looking into the activities of the Klan’s national leadership and its different departments and officials delivering the needed image to the American public to understand how they factored the growth of the Klan in individual communities.
The book also proves the theory that kleagles deliberately tried to recruit Freemasons into their order and often succeeded in doing so.
However, the study shows that the Craft and the KKK’s relationship wasn’t ubiquitously comfortable. Freemasons were deeply divided on the subject of confronting the Klan. Sometimes, the two fraternities even cooperated, but for the most part Freemasonry tried to ignore or protest the persistent advances of the KKK. Only the Craft’s military wing made moves to establish an alliance with the Invisible Empire, an attempt regularly challenged by more authoritative leaders within the movement and the broader membership of the fraternity.
The KKK rose to power by targeting and manipulating the contemporary views of white Protestant Americans after WWI. In Detroit, the working class was worried about the Afro-American families moving into their neighborhood; New York citizens observed all the European immigrants wondering why they insisted on living apart from the society; Texans were outraged by the flagrant disregard of the Eighteenth Amendment.
The Ku Klux Klan successfully convinced Americans that it was mustering the nation’s patriots to fight immorality and various ill un-American influences. The 1920s Invisible Empire presented itself as a new, superior form of fraternalism, a militant brotherhood applying the klavern’s lessons in daily life and for the defence of the country. For many Americans, the klavern was a home, a refuge where his patriotism and reactionary opinions met universal support and were developed, and thus, the KKK created a sense of union among the Klansmen.
This new form of fraternalism highly impressed the American public. Many considered the Ku Klux Klan a refreshing alternative to other, antiquated fraternities; it offered much broader and more flexible scope of activities. Rather than strive to reform their own, mostly unsuccessful organization, militant Freemasons were one of the first to join the Invisible Empire, eager to try a new organization that could fulfill their political ambitions and the dream of a more enlightened America.
I loved Miguel Hernández study, and I’m surprised to see no reviews. The book is extremely well-researched, insightful, compellingly written, and offers a unique outlook on the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s. 5 stars.
In addition, the authors examines why the Freemasons themselves were attracted to the revived KKK and emphasizes the crucial contribution the Klan’s public relations and management made to the organization’s success.
Hernández highlights the importance of looking into the activities of the Klan’s national leadership and its different departments and officials delivering the needed image to the American public to understand how they factored the growth of the Klan in individual communities.
The book also proves the theory that kleagles deliberately tried to recruit Freemasons into their order and often succeeded in doing so.
However, the study shows that the Craft and the KKK’s relationship wasn’t ubiquitously comfortable. Freemasons were deeply divided on the subject of confronting the Klan. Sometimes, the two fraternities even cooperated, but for the most part Freemasonry tried to ignore or protest the persistent advances of the KKK. Only the Craft’s military wing made moves to establish an alliance with the Invisible Empire, an attempt regularly challenged by more authoritative leaders within the movement and the broader membership of the fraternity.
The KKK rose to power by targeting and manipulating the contemporary views of white Protestant Americans after WWI. In Detroit, the working class was worried about the Afro-American families moving into their neighborhood; New York citizens observed all the European immigrants wondering why they insisted on living apart from the society; Texans were outraged by the flagrant disregard of the Eighteenth Amendment.
The Ku Klux Klan successfully convinced Americans that it was mustering the nation’s patriots to fight immorality and various ill un-American influences. The 1920s Invisible Empire presented itself as a new, superior form of fraternalism, a militant brotherhood applying the klavern’s lessons in daily life and for the defence of the country. For many Americans, the klavern was a home, a refuge where his patriotism and reactionary opinions met universal support and were developed, and thus, the KKK created a sense of union among the Klansmen.
This new form of fraternalism highly impressed the American public. Many considered the Ku Klux Klan a refreshing alternative to other, antiquated fraternities; it offered much broader and more flexible scope of activities. Rather than strive to reform their own, mostly unsuccessful organization, militant Freemasons were one of the first to join the Invisible Empire, eager to try a new organization that could fulfill their political ambitions and the dream of a more enlightened America.
I loved Miguel Hernández study, and I’m surprised to see no reviews. The book is extremely well-researched, insightful, compellingly written, and offers a unique outlook on the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s. 5 stars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review