Despite the civil rights amendments being passed over 40 years ago, racism continues to thrive in America. A good example of this is the southern-based organization called the Ku Klux Klan. Is the KKK a serious threat to our society or is it just another group made out to scare people? Started after the civil war by six confederate Army Generals (Wade, 33). The KKK was originally made to scare black people so they wouldn't push for equal rights. When the KKK began to loose the battle it switched from scare to kill. The KKK continued to swell picking up angry white men and women who had any kind of grudges against blacks.
             Because of the ratification of the 13th amendment, ending slavery in the south, the KKK emerged with a cause that has yet to be put to rest...the rise of white power. Although slavery was abolished, racism was not. Because the government had started recognizing African Americans as more than just slaves, the Klan decided they would have to take matters into their own hands. They felt extremely betrayed by the U.S. government. Once claimed, "The KKK movement provided for the people of the south the leadership and rallying point to begin their arduous struggle to regain their lost dignity and indeed, the values of Western Civilization." They began their protest by lynching, tar and feathering, whipping, beating, and killing African Americans in the south. Because Blacks had been given rights, the Klan felt it was their duty to prevent the former slaves from using them.
             For years, the harassment from the KKK was successful. Until the civil rights movement of the 60's, it seemed as if the Ku Klux Klan had achieved their goal. The Klan rose again, even stronger than before with hundreds more people joining their "movement". The Klan doesn't use the same tactics as they did years and years ago. Realizing they would get more attention using intelligent words as opposed to violence, the Klan changed their ...