Personal Refrence to Racism

Growing up in Montana, I was widely exposed to narrow minded views and racism. Not only was it a predominately white town, but any African American in town was usually associated in someway with an athletic team of the local university. Funny part about these athletes is that about 40 percent of them played football there, and that football team was coached by my father.

As a kid in eastern Washington, I can remember going to preschool with an African American girl and at one point, we even had one of my dad’s black Graduate Assistants living with us. My sister and I were raised with no perception of difference in race. Granted it was obvious to me that we looked different, however personality and character wise, we were the same. It wasn’t until we moved to Montana that I came in contact with blatant racism.

I can remember one morning in January waking up to the sound of my dad coughing outside. My first thought was that it must have snowed and he was shoveling. But when I went outside to help him, I saw that he was scraping frozen eggs off of the side of our home. At that point I realized it was the morning of Martin Luther King Jr. day and our house had been egged, most likely due to the fact that our family was associated with the black athletes in the area. The next day the local paper reported similar crimes had been committed around the area, and all of them had some connection to race.

At the time I was in eight-grade, and I can remember it happening every year we lived there. As a college football coach, my dad never saw color. Sure he saw differences in academic success and athletic prowess, but he was never the first to recruit someone simply “because he is black.”

Another misconception about African American athletes that I have also learned directly correlates with criminality and the discrimination that comes with those mistakes. One of dad’s assistant coaches played football at Washington State with intentions on playing in the NFL. However, one drunken bar fight the summer after graduation left him with a broken hand and a broken criminal record. Luckily for him, Coach Price gave him high endorsements and Dad agreed to give him a chance as an assistant coach on his staff. Upon taking the job, local media outlets criticized dad for making such a “reckless” hire, and questioned whether or not this coach should be allowed to work with college students or be employed by a state institution. Turns out, he was the best assistant coach Dad ever hired. He had such strong people skills, that he had a powerful ability to recruit players to want to play for the Montana program, something that was hard considering the geographical location, and off the field he led community service projects for the team. This coach was with our family for 5 seasons at that school, leaving to take a job at a D-1 school, and is now the top assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers. Turns out taking a gamble on a “broken record” has never paid out so well.

Looking back I am extremely thankful for the upbringing I have had, and hope to provide that to my children some day.

Reflection

Reflection on this class is hard to sum up in one blog post. Coming into the class, I thought race was something that was defined by the color of your skin and the country of your heritage. However as I sit here and try to define everything I have learned, words and themes are hard to organize.

I began asking members of the WSU community what they thought about race, and if their views varied from their parents. This parent-child relationship has been of extreme interest to me since we saw the family dynamics within the setting of the movie American History X.

I asked the first person what they first thought of when it comes to race. Her first race that came to mind was Mexicans, and she stated: “I hate them. They take our jobs, and fester off the economy of hard working Americans.” This response is one that can often be heard especially around people who come from a rural area. I personally know farmers who choose to employ immigrants (albeit some of them illegal) because they are hardworking and will work for adequate pay.  I believe that some of this can even be contributed to th arrogance of the white American man/woman who won’t “settle” for such migrant jobs.

After my first conversation, I wanted to focus on what was causing these beliefs. Throughout the discussion of American History X, I became fascinated with the extremity that comes from children of parents with such strong views. One of my good friends had this to say:

            “When I came to college I was very small minded and racist. I come from a small community that has been ‘invaded’ by migrant workers. Granted my dad employs them, but he would always express his hatred for them at the same time.”

This statement exemplifies the family dynamic, and how it can influence children. However this person is now dating a Muslim American, and when I asked her if she’d ever introduce her boyfriend to her father, she simply replied, “Hell no.”

I asked her why her views had changed and if she thought she was influenced by her parents’ views growing up. Summing it up, she said: “Of course I was. My dad is very conservative and small-minded because he was raised that way. I think that is part of the reason my siblings and I have the views that we do. Granted, I used to have the same beliefs until I came to college and was exposed to new people, new people like my boyfriend.”

When it comes to the discussion of race in a collegiate setting, I think you would be surprised at the opinions and beliefs that college students have. Regardless of your upbringing or current ideals, college forces you to open up and participate in new experiences. Joining this class, I was extremely hesitant to ever speak up, mainly because I was worried about saying the wrong thing or offending someone. However, after the first in depth discussion about “portraying races”, I realized that unless our generation confronts the ignorance and misconceptions about race, our children and future generations will face the same struggles, and the cycle will continue.

Gangland- History Channel's look into the modern KKK

Founded as a social fraternity in the town of Pulaski, Tennessee, the Ku Klux Klan has long stood as one of the most historic gangs in American History. As children growing up in the American Education system, we were taught lessons about this group, learning that they were in fact, one of the most hateful groups in American History. Scarred with images of white hoods and burning crosses, the KKK holds a reputation unlike any other “social fraternity” you would find on college campuses today.

The history channel currently has a television show called “Gangland”, and it is a series that dives into the history and rituals behind gangs such as the KKK and “the Bloods.” I have attached the link to the episode below, and would highly suggest watching it to anyone who is remotely interested in the history of this organization.

The video is interesting because it creates a current representation of the image of the KKK, and draws comparisons to the “perceptions” many have of the organization. In the interview, one member of the “Imperial Kans of America” (a contemporary alternative to the original KKK organization) stated that their group was formed to combat this “perception.”

“We highly advise that members do not act out in violence,” he said. “We hope to prove to society that members of this organization do not fit the mold of original KKK members, and in fact can act and behave like gentlemen and ladies.”

The importance of this interview, I believe, is to highlight the shift in intentions and perceptions that IKA members hope to bring to society. No longer are they choosing to dawn the white robes, saddle their horses and burn houses down, instead they are expressing their views through rallies and word of mouth.

Yes, the IKA organization does have the same beliefs as members of the KKK, however these members are well educated and well mannered. When I looked up information regarding the values and ideologies of the IKA, they emphasized recruiting “honorable, intelligent, responsible, and of pure Aryan heritage.” Granted this starkly resembles what is also in the recruitment section of he KKK’s website, however officials of the IKA state in large letters “we will NOT tolerate drug users/dealers, thieves, child molesters, abusers or anyone with immoral character in our movement.” This helps emphasize the importance of character of all members who choose to be a part of the new generation of the IKA.

After watching this video and researching the values behind the IKA organization, I couldn’t help feel a tiny sense of hope. Yes, these organizations are somewhat “extreme” in their beliefs and ideals, but if they choose to fully believe and take action in their renewed mission, the argument on race can be one composed in an educated and sophisticated manner. In the past many officials who try to address and combat these issues, have had to face the imminent fear of violence, however it will be interesting to see what we can learn from debates among such groups. I still believe that we should be respectful and mindful of such groups, keeping in mind the seriousness of the issue and the long frightful history of the topic.

Gangland- HIstory of the KKK

The Confederate Flag: Mainstream Symbol or Extreme Ideology?

The confederate flag has long been a symbol of the historic south and the storied battles of the Civil War. Armed with its cross and stars, many people today fly the flag as a tribute to their heritage and culture. However, that flag also brings about many negative feelings regarding the dark side of U.S. government history.

Created in 1861, the flag was flown for 4 years and served as the national symbol for the Confederate States of America. During that time the south was a racially divided “nation”, under which any person of color had little or no rights in society. It was this era that spawned the belief system of the members of the KKK, beliefs that largely still hold influence in their organization today.

At large extremist events, such as ones held by members of the KKK, it is common to see the confederate flag flying proudly.  It is the stereotypical “Southern Confederate Man” who many assume are associated with such groups and their ideals. Them members who appear at these rallies, although in costume, outwardly identify themselves as extremist members of society. Take for example this picture of KKK members saluting the Confederate Flag:

However, not all who fly the Confederate Flag, associate themselves with the ideologies and beliefs of such extremist groups. For example, a group of high school students in Indiana faced serious consequences for flying the flag on school property. The boys who stated that they believed the flag represented “the confederate army (that) was in rebellion to the U.S. Army who were about money and power” and insisted that “(we) never took it as racial or anything like that.”

Upon hearing of the incident, school officials immediately suspended the three seniors, prohibiting them from attending graduation the following day. This example clearly demonstrates how bits of the “extreme” can eventually work their way into the “mainstream” of society. In the younger generation, for instance when I think of the confederate flag, I am not immediately consumed with horrific thoughts of racism and the tragedy of the civil war. Rather, I look at it as a controversial symbol of our past, one that means a variety of things to a wide range of people.  

After reading this article, I found myself questioning what truly defines “mainstream” vs. “extreme”. Does it take a death or a heinous crime to define an “extreme” action, or does an action such as flying the confederate flag in society today render an “extreme” title. The school officials in this case were forced to determine that definition, which ultimately ended in their suspension of these boys.

When asked about the decision school officials stated, “We are very clear that the Confederate flag is a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism," said Rick Kaufman, the Executive Director of Community Relations at Bloomington Kennedy High School. "It's truly unfortunate that the bad decision they made will prevent them from walking across the stage in graduation.”

Race will forever be tumultuous topic in American history both presently, and in the past. However, if we can educate and define the true meaning of symbols such as the Confederate Flag, then we might be able to indirectly address the censorship regarding such controversial symbols. 

Here is the link to the story mentioned above: www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=513203

Entertainment turned Lesson

The study of the white nationalist movement is one which often renders questions regarding race, heritage and moral values. Many people outside the movement question the intent and the beliefs behind the history behind the ideals, however insiders find the war on race as the most important battle mankind will ever face. The movie “American History X” and the book Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, give outsiders an inside look into the daily routine of a white nationalist member.  Although the movie is a Hollywood portrayal, the plot line aligns with many of the stories and circumstances that Frank Meeink  (author of Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead) underwent throughout his skinhead lifetime.

            Having never previously seen the movie, I was intrigued by he portrayal of the white supremacist members living in California. When it comes to thinking about extremist groups such as these, I had always pictured that they would outwardly display, almost acting outrageously, to show their beliefs. Prior to the movie I had also thought that members of these groups have a long family history of belonging to such organizations, and instead the movie showed that “Derek” was actually brought up in a typical “American Dream” household. One would think that such a typical upbringing would result in a child growing up to become a successful and intelligent member of society, but this movie perfectly portrays the influence that a parents belief system can have on a child’s perception. This influence almost seems to make the child have even stronger beliefs towards a given idea than the parent ever had. I believe this is why “Derek” had such strong beliefs in the movement, not only because of the way his father was killed, but also because of the beliefs that his father outwardly expressed to him as a teenager. Ultimately, I also think this is what affected “Danny’s” behavior throughout the movie.

            An interesting correlation I also drew between the movie and the book, was the idea that through serving a sentence, prison and the judicial system can somewhat “save” criminals. Both Meeink and “Derek” were sent to prison based off of their actions as white nationalist movement members, however it was in prison where they learned the true meaning of tolerance and acceptance. For instance in his book, Meeink talks about the process of befriending the men he used to hate, through playing on a prison football team with men of all races. It was there in prison, behind cement walls and away from all of the cultural and social influences, that these men were “freed” from the movement.

            Currently there many Americans who have these same beliefs and struggles that both men listed in this blog were going through at one time. The correlation that has been drawn from the movie and the book, is one that can be applied to white nationalist movement members today. This statement is especially true when it comes to spreading the message of redemption and prevention, to young organization. Yes, there will always be extremist beliefs, however with solid and realistic education about the topic, the American educational system might be able to have a positive impact on the youth of these movements. Although this idea would possibly only be able to flourish in High School courses, this Cultural and Ethnic education needs to be taught. I believe that the motto of this blog post can be summed up in the following quote: Nelson Mandela once said, “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”

Controversial Klan Member

Membership to the Ku Klux Klan has always been regarded as  “highly secretive” and somewhat “taboo” compared to the rest of mainstream society. What many may not know, is the long list of powerful figures who once dawned the robes of this storied brotherhood.

Founded upon the ideas of “protecting the white race” and creating a “sacred fraternal order”, the KKK has often veered from its originally intended form of service. With a past consisting of riots, violence, and acts of hate, some Americans would be astonished to believe that multiple past US Presidents were once members of this fraternal order.

Harry S. Truman was once a member of the KKK, before serving the United States as the 33rd President. Throughout his Presidential campaign Truman fought for a united movement to end discrimination, as well as help in the efforts to clean up slum areas in America’s cities.

My main question is, if the American people knew of Truman’s membership to the KKK would he still have been elected? Currently in the US, government agencies are gearing up for what will prove to be an extremely controversial election year. President Barack Obama is up for re-election, while throughout the nation other candidates are beginning to make their campaign for the coveted Republican and Independent tickets.  While Obama has served as President, we have seen the endless arguments and conspiracies that place the economic downfall at the hands of the President, along with numerous other failing programs.

However, where we need to currently focus our attention is not on Obama’s re-election campaign, but the individual campaigns of other hopeful presidential candidates. Earlier this year we discussed how the rise of acts of hate violence directly correlate with times of uncertainty, and the same can be said with the rise of outspoken members of society choosing to speak out about current issues in times of economic uncertainty.

Recently Tea Party members have begun to campaign for American’s votes throughout the nation. However it would not be out of line to draw a direct comparison of these Tea Party campaign members back to former President Truman. Although at the time Truman was not seen as an extremist of sorts, he still had strong beliefs in theories and ideologies that were not mainstream. Truman was also elected following the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and served as President during the end of World War II, both major times of economic and national uncertainty. It can be said that Truman never acted out of line, or made any major changes to the mainstream of the American Culture, however his Presidency proved the prevalence of such white nationalist values among leaders of American history.

It is my belief that the increasing social media and online presence of these groups will only allow members of white nationalist groups such as the KKK, strengthen the message they are sending. Thus, society will begin to assume that such messages have become the mainstream and Americans will be forced to re-evaluate what the true meaning of “extremism” is, and how it will ultimately affect the country’s future.

Sources:http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/harrystruman 

Imminent End to the White Race

Many members of white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux clan fear the imminent end to the white race. At the core of all KKK documents, words such as “protection” and “genocide” fill the pages, expressing the idea of the process by which will end the white race.

One example of this can be seen in the sublimittal messages that members of the KK and other white supremacists would use in mainstream media to help spread their message. The number 311 is translated as to symbolize K-K-K, seeing as the letter “K” is the 11^th letter of the alphabet. Today 311 is also the name of a popular hate rock band that sing white supremacist lyrics such as the ones in their song, “Prisoner.” In the third verse they sing “Mutant races in an ancient universe”, referring to the increase of non-white races into the mainstream “Christian race”.

When it comes to spreading the warning of a “coming white genocide” on the internet, multiple KKK-oriented websites have already begun to send the message. For instance one website states the following:

“The coming white genocide has already started and is in its first stages. Whites today in record numbers are leaving areas that non-whites are filling up. The state of California is a prime example. White flight is nothing more than ethnic cleansing of Euro-whites. Violence and discrimination against whites in the large cities are forcing them to hand over America’s metropolitan areas and many smaller areas as well to non-whites.”

“The genocide against our race will take many decades, but the time is steadily becoming short. And this genocide is not based on geography, but race. It is a world wide phenomena.”

Websites such as “thekkk.bz.com” also emphasize the warnings that Christ has yielded about the coming genocide. They attribute national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the terrorist attack of September 11^th served as a warning that went “unnoticed” by common “sleeping members” of society. These so called “sleeping members” are citizens who have not realized the true importance of the war on race, and also are considered potential candidates for groups such as the KKK.

An example of the importance that Christ plays into the spreading of their message can be seen in the following passage:

“We will need to take strong political action in whatever way we are able at this time. We must present ourselves in a responsible strong professional and caring manner. We must do it now. Our faith demands it. We must remember that though we face slavery by the next century, the Bible tells us that for the sake of the Saints the time will be cut short. Fight on behalf of those who don’t even know they need help, ask for guidance from Christ.”

Amongst members of the KKK two things are very clear when it comes to idea of racial genocide; there is no time to waste, white racial genocide is imminent, and the idea that no matter what actions we take, it is God that will guide them through this process.

If you wish to learn more about the passages cited in this post please visit: http://www.kkk.bz/coming_white_genocide.htm.