Ring Shout

by P. Djèlí Clark

With all the flag-waving and cavorting, you might forget they was monsters.

“White folk don’t care ’bout pepper and spices. Like they food bland as water.”

You see, the Second Klan was birthed on November 25 back in 1915. What we call D-Day, or Devil’s Night—when William Joseph Simmons, a regular old witch, and fifteen others met up on Stone Mountain east of Atlanta. Stories say they read from a conjuring book inked in blood on human skin. Can’t vouch for that. But it was them that called up the monsters we call Ku Kluxes. And it all started with this damned movie.

“White folk earn something from that hate. Might not be wages. But knowing we on the bottom and they set above us—just as good, maybe better.”

“Girl, every choice we make is a new tomorrow. Whole worlds waiting to be born.”