The series of documents provided in Mathesin’s reader concerning the role of religion in the civil rights movement includes a wide variety of different religious groups and their philosophical beliefs. These beliefs provoke thoughts that in many cases, promotes extreme ideologies and behaviors of its adherents. One example of extremism is illustrated in the document of the interview with a Klu Klux Klan member in regards to the murder of three civil rights workers in 1964 The Klan definitely did not support the civil rights movement, and they equated governmental policies that supported civil rights as a form of communism. The Klu Klux Klan also wanted to maintain racial purity. Somehow they believed that this relates to Christianity.
Another document provided in these readings detailed The Black Muslim Movement, also prevalent during this time period. Black Muslims in this country wanted to demand equality for blacks with the support of their religious affiliation. These demands came in the form of propositions. Black Muslims wanted to form a separate state within this country and they wanted to be exempt from taxation as long as they were being discriminated against. The part that interested me the most was the subject of intermarriage. One of the propositions prohibits intermarriage, or “race mixing”.
Black Muslims seem to agree with the Klu Klux Klan that it would be bad to lose their racial purity. Today, Malcolm X is one of the most notable figures to be remembered from the Black Muslim Movement. This organization believed that racial separateness was better than what they felt were the vague promises of racial equality that the United States had to offer them and they strongly believed that you cannot have capitalism without racism. At the same time, Malcolm and his followers were adamant about excluding whites from their organization and yet professed not to be racist.
Simon, JohnJ; Spellman, A B; Gardner, Jigs
Monthly Review
02-01-2005
P. 25
P.S.
I looked on the internet for more information the Klu Klux Klan and found their website. Although I was unable to produce a peer reviewed document to discuss for the purpose of this blog I recommend that anyone interested in religion and extremism in the United States should view this website to gain greater insight into the ideology that continues to exist in our country more than 40 years after the civil rights movement.
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I moved back to California three years ago after having lived in a small town in Maryland for seven years. To my surprise, the Klu Klux Klan existed in a nearby town called Thurmont, which was less than 45 minutes away from where I lived. I had NO clue that groups like that still exist today. I think that I was simply naive about the extent of racism that still exists in our country. Although the Civil Rights Movement made a lage amount of progress toward reducing racial inequality, racism will always be a problem in our country. It is interesting to me, however, that even the Black Muslims who fought for equality (including Malcolm X) in the United States, strived for racial seperateness and opposed interracial marriage.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for me to understand why people are still racist in this country. We have come such a long way and yet there are still racist and inequality issues. Hopefully this can be overcome and soon.
ReplyDeleteP.s. I have seen a KKK bumper sticker on a truck while driving through Oakland. Not the best place for an extremist to be.
I find it odd that the kkk and black muslims can actually agree on something...haha. I bet neither of them would admit that they share the same thought.
ReplyDeleteI know that the KKK was still around when I was in high school, but that thought had left my mind until now. If it's still around now, what will have to take place to stop it?
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