The Invisible Empire of the KKK

Louisiana 1900's X Alt-1920s Covington X Novel 1920's New Orleans‎

History

Arising from the economic and social disorganization in the wake of the Civil War, six veterans of the Confederate army organized a small social club or fraternity. Their meeting took place in the summer of 1866, in the law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones of Pulaski, Tennessee. Initially organized for amusement purposes only, six former soldiers essentially engaged in horseplay, wearing disguises and riding their horses around town after dark. Finding that their actions frightened former and often superstitious slaves in the area, the members of the Pulaski Klan, thought to be ghosts of dead Confederate soldiers, heightened their activities in an attempt to restore the former plantation system. The idea of frightening former slaves back to work attracted numerous new members, resulting in the spread and rapid expansion of the Ku Klux Klan.

Relatively non-violent in nature, the Ku Klux Klan, under the leadership of Forrest, grew and transformed considerably following the passage of the Reconstruction Acts of March-July 1867. In fact, harassment, intimidation, and murder became more commonplace, as northern teachers, judges, politicians, carpetbaggers, and Freedmen were targeted indiscriminately. Louisiana was no exception, as conservative whites organized into a number of secret paramilitary organizations.

Hoping to elect Democrat Horatio Seymour over Republican candidate Ulysses S. Grant, Louisiana white paramilitary organizations, initiated a campaign of terror against Freedmen never before witnessed in Louisiana. Given that blacks outnumbered whites almost 3 to 1 in Northwest Louisiana, controlling the black majority and securing the Democratic vote took on increasing importance for these groups.

Historically, violence was nothing new to residents of Northwestern Louisiana. Shreveport was minimally affected by the Civil War and briefly served as the capital of Confederate Louisiana. Area whites never really felt defeated and very much despised the Reconstruction policies of the Federal government. Despite victories in Louisiana and six other states, Seymour and Blair lost to Grant and Colfax. Briefly returning in 1874, white on black violence fell sharply in Northwestern Louisiana. Relatively quiet for almost forty years, the “Ku Klux” movement returned with a vengeance in the 1920′s.

Spreading rapidly throughout the South, the Ku Klux Klan reentered Louisiana and began organizing a chapter in New Orleans in November of 1920. The chapter’s name was Old Hickory Klan Number One and consisted of lawyers, politicians and doctors. Approximately one week later, Shreveport Klan Number Two was established. Given its rural nature and the large number of protestant whites, Shreveport became the state headquarters of the Louisiana Klan. As the Klan spread throughout the state, most members became increasingly unconcerned with the national aims of the Ku Klux Klan. In general, the Louisiana Klan, at this time, was not concerned with immigration, the Jewish problem, or white supremacy, and thought of themselves as more of a moralistic law enforcement agency. The Klan took it upon them to clean up society and punish bootleggers, moonshiners, vagrants, and gamblers.

Titles and Rankings of the Mid-Era Klan

Imperial Wizard - national head of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan often referred to in documents as president. Imperial Klonsel - Supreme attorney Imperial Kleagle - executive, recieves reports from the Grand Goblins. Grand Goblin - ruler over a "Dominion" which is now defined as a multi-state area. King Kleagle - manager of state known as a "Realm." Kleagle - field organizer over a certain territory or part of a "Realm." Local "Dens" were replaced by "Klaverns" and had their own ranks and titles. The Ku Klux ritual was called the "Kloran." The investigative committee was called the "Klokann." National conventions were called "Klonvokations." A delegate to a Klonvokation was a Klepeer. The national council was called the "Imperial Kloncilium." Exalted Cyclops - president of the Klavern Terrors - officers of the Exalted Cyclops which consists of: Klaliff - vice president of the Klavern Klokard - lecturer Kludd - the Chaplain Kligrapp - secretary Klabee - treasurer Kladd - the conductor of ceremonies Klarogo - inner guard Klexter - outer guard Klokan - Head of the three-man Klokann Board which investigates prospective members. Night-Hawk - Custodian of the fiery cross and person incharge of new candidates or "aliens" Similar titles existed at the national, state, and local levels with "Imperial", "Grand", and "Great" prefaced respectively.

Terms

"Dominion" or "Domain" - In the First Era Klan a Dominion corresponded to a congressional district. During the Second Era (1915-1944) a Dominion usually became a multi-state area. There were nine Dominions with headquarters in the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, Houston, and Los Angeles. "Domain of the East", New York state only "Domain of the Mississippi Valley", seven states[1] "Klannishness" - refers to loyalty to family, nation, race, and the Ku Klux Klan itself. This term was in common usage during the 1920s Klan period. "Klonvocation", "Klonvokation" also" National Klonklave" - a national convention and legislature of the Ku Klux Klan. In June 1941 the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan held their Tenth Biennial Klonvocation in Atlanta. "Kloncilium" - an advisory and judicial body appointed by the Imperial Wizard. It substitutes as a legislature when the Klonvocation is not in session.[2] "Klectoken" - the $10 initiation fee (Second Era) "Klanton" - the jurisdiction of a klavern. Kloran - Text of Ku Klux Klan initiation document (1916) Passwords

"Kigy" - means "Klansman, I greet you."