The Aryan Nations. The American Nazi Party. What are these groups? Why are they
present in a land of supposed equality of all men? They are there because there
are millions of Americans that believe in their message of white pride. The
African American population is growing and Americans are now a mixed group of
people. Black people are white people's neighbours, doctors, friends. With a
growing unity between the two races, why does racism continue? The answer is
simple. Racists from many years ago raise their kids in clans and white
supremacy groups and teach them the ways of hatred. These kids grow up
"brain-washed" that black people are their enemies and, taught by
example, will continue this trend (The Volume Library; 1988). The Ku Klux Klan
has been around since the end of the civil war. It is a roller coaster of a
history. From extreme power, to rapid decline, and slow reemergence (Software
Toolworks Encyclopedia; 1992). The clan, who is notorious for its violence, has
a relatively innocent beginning. It was formed from some veterans from the
confederate army and was first called the Kuklos Clan which, in Greek, meant
Circle Clan. One person thought it would be a good idea to call it the "Ku
Klux Klan" as a parody of the fraternity names which always had three Greek
alphabet letters in it. They created the Clan to be mischievous and to do it
without anyone knowing who they were which accounts for their costumes and
masks. They, like most whites, were upset that the black people were free
because black people were a constant reminder of the bitter defeat of the South.
So to have fun they terrorized black people. Eventually the group grew,
fluctuating, but grew to become the first white supremacy group in America and
with that growth, their hatred grew as well into what was seen in the early and
middle 1900's and what is seen today. Along with the KKK, other anti-black,
pro-white groups formed and stemmed out all over the U.S.A. The Neo Nazis who
are more commonly know by the term "Skin Heads", are a growing force
in hate groups. There hatred of Hispanics, Jews, Blacks, and others are now the
fastest growing force in America. The Skin Head movement is usually done by the
younger kids. These kids are drawn to the Aryan Nations and Neo Nazis by the
promise of free drugs, free booze, heavy metal music, ultimate freedom and
rebellion. A lot of these kids stay because of family troubles at home and, like
in a gang, feel like they have a family with the group and feel loved. "The
skinheads are a family... A lot of us don't have what you'd call a home"
commented Joshua, who is a 16 year old recruiter in California (United They
Hate; Michael Kronenwetter). The race war was in full force by the 1960's. With
the growth of white supremacy and their groups, black too had a weapon. Martin
Luther King Jr. lead his people to march in Washington to end segregation and to
form black unity for an equal and better America. Malcolm X, who was a Muslim,
may have come from a different religion than his Christian counterpart, but had
a very similar message and a similar fate. Both were assassinated. Today the
hate groups of America have spread into Canada and are particularly common in
Manitoba. The major sects are of the same name as their American cousins with a
very similar message. Racism, despite much opposition, will never end. As long
as there is fighting among a Jew and a Palestinian or hatred between a white and
a black, Racism will be there. Only a utopian society can achieve such a dream.
It is in human nature to have a few people that do not understand or possibly
hate those who are different but, in fact, we are not different, we are
judgmental and we are discriminatory, we segregate. We are unique individuals
but among races we are equal and the same.