Written Assignment
I. A.
Visit the the KKK Home Pages below, read their mission
statement/objectives and for EACH answer each of the following
questions: (note these URL's may disappear or change)
Visit the websites: http://www.ku-klux-klan.org/
http://kkkk.net/page1.htm
(warning--explicit,
avoid if you wish--
however, extensive insight into this organization)
http://www.kkk.com/
http://www.kkklan.com/
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1. What are your initial impressions for each site?
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2. For each summarize their
mission and primary beliefs.
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3. How do the groups differ/How are they the same?
Use examples from their mission, site design, messages,
audience they are attempting to reach.
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4. Which group
seems to be capable of promoting their perspectives in a more
politically acceptable manner”—explain your answer using “specific
citations/examples from each site.
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5. What surprised you about the
perspectives, opinions and/or messages you encountered?
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6. How does the 21st century
group differ from the 19th century "original" (
for the 19th century Klan, use properly cited quotations from The American
Spirit, Vol. II--page number depends depending on your
edition-- it is is the first section--Ordeal of
Reconstruction--The Ku Klux Klan's Reign of Terror)?
B.
Review each of the following four sites and
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Write
a brief overview of the information provided and your new knowledge of this issue in
American History (including from the first site note the earliest and
latest dates related to the postcards and at the end, the date of
Billie Holiday's song)—
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Regarding the photographs,
information and
lyrics--What shocked
you from a social, political and moral perspective?
1.
Lynching In America
This is a
disturbing and graphic site portraying this horrible legacy of
American history.
http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/african/2000/lynching.htm
A more comprehensive collection of these images and an
insightful author's commentary may be found in the book:
2. Without Sanctuary. This source is
sometimes available on
the internet go here first
http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/
or
http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/main.html (Click on Movie)
IF NOT AVAILABLE--I have substituted a Power Point presentation of
some of the same images created by Milford Plaines for public
review --IN ALL CASES warning graphic violence:
http://www.maafa.org/
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3.
Listen to the 1939 Recording of Strange Fruit by Billie
Holiday
- Just click on Audio Icon Billie Holiday.
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http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_holiday_billie.htm
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4.
Lyrics of Strange Fruit
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http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/billie-holiday/17859.html
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C.
Read and print one
Current Event article related to the present KKK or a lynching
in the United States--briefly summarize the content of the
article.
D. Extra Credit--Who was Emmett
Till? Find a current event article (from the past
two years) regarding this young
man.