The Klan and the Flag

In all the brouhaha over the Mississippi flag, it was taken as fact that the KKK had adopted the Confederate Flag as its symbol. The opponents then argued that, whether or not the Southern Cross once stood for freedom, its association with the Klan cements the opposite impression. There is nothing that can be done about it: the battle flag and racism are inextricably linked. Don’t blame us. Blame the Klan.

Is it true? The 1965 book by David M. Chalmers, Hooded Americanism: The First Century of the Ku Klux Klan, 1865-1965 (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1965) was the definitive treatment at the time. It features many pictures of the Klan in operation. Not one shows a Confederate Flag.

Every picture with a flag is printed below. Shouldn’t something be done about suppressing the symbol of hate that they carry? It may have once stood for freedom, but now it stands for the opposite. Don’t blame us. Blame the Klan.

April 26, 2001

Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. (send him mail), is president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama. He also edits a daily news site, LewRockwell.com.

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Ah, yes. The eternal 'klan and the flag' question. Let's look at some more recent photos, shall we?

Those were from the Alabam White Knights website, BTW. According to them, they have been "Serving your racial needs since 1865." You really need to thank them some time.