Six young men started a "club" in 1866 in Pulaski, Tennessee. This club came to be known as the Ku Klux Klan. At first they limited their actions to riding the countryside at night, crashing parties while wearing their ghostly ornate costumes. Soon they recruited more men and, modeling their club after a fraternity, had secret handshakes and passwords, initiation rituals and other secret rites. Their actions soon took a turn towards violence and former slaves were on the receiving end of threats, whippings, beatings and even lynchings. The book is filled with photos, illustrations and interviews.
Why I picked it up: I know little about the Ku Klux Klan and this seemed like a good way to find out about its origins.
Why I finished it: It was interesting to read about this time in our history.
I'd give it to: Anyone who doesn't know much about the Ku Klux Klan. The book is well-researched and is a fairly easy read.
call # - HS2330.K63B37 2010 (currently located in New Books)
They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: the Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Cartoletti c2010
