Ring Shout

by P. Djèlí Clark

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.”

Truth bend down, searching for his face. But with no eyes, he can’t see. Lie, he sneaky. He snatch up Truth’s face and run off! Zip! Now Lie go around wearing Truth’s face, fooling everybody he meet.” She stops stitching to fix me with stern eyes. “The enemy, they are the Lie. Plain and simple. The Lie running around pretending to be Truth.”

The Shout Eve and Adam tell ’bout them two listening to that wicked snake and eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. When God call out, Adam don’t answer. So He get to asking Eve. She say Adam going ’round picking up leaves to hide his nakedness, now that he know shame. When we do that Shout, we go ’round pretending to gather up leaves like Adam, hiding from the Lord. Suppose we making fun but it’s a warning too—be mindful of getting mixed up with old wicked snakes.