Ku Klux Klan’s History and Methods of Instilling Fear In Relation To the Book ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Subject DD MM YYYY Ku Klux Klan’s History and Methods of Instilling Fear In Relation To the Book ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ The Ku Klux Klan started out as a white’s only group in 1866 at Pulaski Tennessee. The next year in Nashville, Tennessee the agenda of the group changed. The Ku Klux now became a political group that sought to show the superiority of the white race. From then onwards, Ku Klux Klan stood for terror in the eyes of minority races. Relating to the racial divide advocated by the Ku Klux Klan is the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. This book was written by Harper Lee in 1960. It is set in Monroeville, Alabama which is a region that also experienced a lot of racial injustice. This essay looks the history and methods used by the Ku Klux Klan to instill fear in relation to the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Background The debate on racial injustice is still as relevant today as it was in the 19th Century. In America, minorities especially blacks have always felt left out. White supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan often spread hate against the blacks (Alexander 7). This impunity, as in the case when the Ku Klux Clan reigned in the south, is supported by state organs. Take for instance the killing of innocent blacks by police officers in regions such as Sacramento California. It is a blatant spread of fear within the society. On the other hand, whites usually feel that other races are inferior. This is mainly because of historical issues such as slavery. The solution to racial injustice, therefore, lies in understanding the past. The connection between Ku Klux Klan activities and the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Whites instilling fear on blacks is evident in both the activities of the Ku Klux Klan and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The Ku Klux Klan went out of their way to ensure that non-whites feared them. This fear also ensured that no white dared to sympathize with blacks. Members of the sect wore long white robes and hoods that covered part of their faces. This created a mystery around their identity that elicited fear. Additionally, members of the society often held open matches as a way of showing off their power (Alexander 10). Another tactic they employed was to burn crosses and beat up individuals. They even went as far as killing anyone who dared to oppose them. One of the scenes in To Kill a Mockingbird also paints a picture of fear. Atticus, the father of the main character decides to represent a black man who was falsely accused of raping a white woman. This decision did not fare well with the other whites. A mob of white individuals decided to attack Atticus on his way home (Lee 54). It is only after Scout shames one of the white men that Atticus is left to walk free. On top of that Scout and Jem, the sons of Atticus, are abused by fellow classmates in school. Such fear only serves to prolong the suffering of minorities. The other commonality between Ku Klux Klan and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is in the suffering of black people. Although the Ku Klux Klan targeted all minorities, African Americans were the most affected. Other minorities such as Jews and Hispanics only had to be keen on their actions and what they said. African Americans who lived in the southern region could not even walk out of their homes for fear of violence. Any black found by members of the Ku Klux Klan was tortured and eventually hanged from a tree (Hammond 15). African Americans who owned property were moved out of this properties. Any resistance resulted in them being gunned down. Furthermore, schools and churches that belonged to blacks were bombed without consideration for the people who were in there. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson a Black American undergoes similar suffering. He is accused of raping a white woman, something that he did not do. Tom ends up being jailed for no reasons (Lee 45). In jail, he undergoes even further atrocities. When he tries to escape from prison he is shot by the prison wardens. Jem cannot help but wonder how cruel people can be to black people. They are often victims of crimes they did not even commit. Another connection is how the justice system supports racial injustice and white supremacist sentiments. The Ku Klux Klan grew without any limitations from 1867 to 1871 (Fleming 30). This was despite the fact that the federal government was strongly against the Ku Klux Klan. The reason for this was the disregard of ...