For decades, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) has been a symbol of hate and bigotry in American society. The KKK’s origins date back to the late 1800s, but it was in the early 1900s that the group’s membership skyrocketed as it targeted immigrants and minorities. At its peak in the 1920s, the Klan boasted a staggering four million members.
While the Klan’s membership declined in the 1930s and 40s, it resurged during the civil rights era in the 1950s and 60s. In response to the growing calls for racial equality, the KKK carried out a wave of bombings and murders that terrorized black communities and civil rights activists.
Despite the FBI’s infiltration of the Klan and successful prosecutions of its leaders, the group has managed to rebuild and remain a presence in American society. The story of the Ku Klux Klan is a dark chapter in American history, one that highlights the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.
Top image: The Ku Klux Klan. Source: Underwood & Underwood / Public Domain.
