The Ku Klux Clan costume (sometimes known as the glory suit "by the Klan) is probably the most distinctive feature of the Ku Klux Klan, and is recognized worldwide. The archetypal outfit was actually popularized largely during the Clan revival of 1915-1944 and consisted of: long, white-dense robes (often decorated with round badges with a cross logo) and white, pointed sharp hat that included a face mask full of eye pits. The basic costume, which has several variations by rank and regionally, is deliberately designed to disguise the identity of the wearer and give the wearer an intimidating and disturbing appearance.
Video Ku Klux Klan regalia and insignia
Development
The origins of the use of the costumes are not clear. Such clothing has been used traditionally since at least the fifteenth century in celebrations such as Holy Week, symbolizing the act of penance. In Spain and previous territories, which belong to parts of the United States, a pointy hat is called "capirote". This has nothing to do with the KKK except by its shallow semblance.
The traditional story associated with the creation of the Klan's uniform is that the whites at the time observed the religion and beliefs of the Negros, including Santeria and Voodoo. From this system they suspect that the Negros are obsessed with the spirit, and the dead. From here came the original "ghost" costume, designed to terrorize the blacks of "superstition". Much of the evidence for this is spoken, however, making it difficult to ascertain how much of this is apocryphal.
The Birth of a Nation film has been proposed as a model that stimulates the adoption of certain clothing and regalia elements by the second KKK (founded in 1915). However, the film shows Klan members wearing various costumes, and there is much less 'standardization'. For example, rather than the famous cone cap, this film shows a number of Klansmen in what is effectively 'flat' veil, with a pole sticking out, as if it were like a medieval armor.
The nineteenth century KKK cloak has various colors. In the 20th century, the second KKK adopted white as the standard. The final manifestation of the KKK in small groups in the late 20th century meant a wider variety of cloaks. Some groups use colored robes for higher ratings, such as red and blue.
Some clans use white robes regardless of their rank. For those who use the most widely used color cloak:
- Purple (or sometimes blue) - Imperial Wizard
- Green (or sometimes red) - Grand Dragon
- Reddish purple - Big Titan
- Gold - Dear Cyclops
- Black - Knighthawk (security)
- Red - Kleagon
The Knighthawk black cloak is usually shorter allowing easier movement.
Maps Ku Klux Klan regalia and insignia
Insignia
Clan symbols often include crosses, sometimes with a drop of red blood in the middle.
M.I.O.A.K. (Mystic Insignia Of A Clan) is a round, red patch worn on the left chest of Klansmans robes. It has a large "X" in the middle with "K" in every corner of "X" for Knights of Ku Klux Klan. The symbolism behind the symbol, according to various KKK groups, is that a drop of blood at the center of the cross symbolizes the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the Crucifixion, for the white Aryan race, which they see as the race of God's teachers or the elect.
Today
The organization has now been fragmented, but a number of successor organizations use what is effectively the same as the costumes. Current major factions include the American Imperial Clan, Louisiana White Knights, White Knights of Loyal, Traditionalist Knights of America, and White Camellia Knights
Popular culture
The Ku Klux Klan costume has appeared in some modern cultural references, some are cute and others are a bit more serious. Examples include:
- In "Pinkeye", episode of Eric Cartman's Park Eric Cartman seems to be dressed as a Klansman for Halloween when her principal makes bedding costume shirts with pointed hoods. This is the top choice for the costume that Cartman wear previously belonged to Adolf Hitler.
- Mini-series Roots contains scenes in which a Confederate veteran is shown creating an initial KKK robe by accidentally burning two holes in a cloth sack with a cigar.
- The film Blazing Saddles features Cleavon Little, a sheriff, and Gene Wilder, a gunslinger, disguised as a Klansman to join Hedley Lamar's gangsters. The joke is that Little is black, and Wilder is Jewish.
- The spoiled MAD magazine edition # 207 sposter Lampoon National Animal House contains a line in which characters compare to a toga party with KKK, which issued an angry letter from the Clan that appeared in issue # 209. In response, John Landis and John Belushi wrote their own letter praising the magazine, claiming "It is an honor to be associated with an insult to the Clan."
- Movies O Brother, Where Art Thou? contains scenes in the KKK rally.
- Larry Shue's 1982 Playwright playwright video Strangers revolves around Charlie, a shy Englishman, and accidental discovery of a plot by a local Clan to get young women's inheritance money to fund their efforts.
- In the opening sequence of Alan Ball True Blood there is a shooting of a boy in a clan's robe standing between adults in the same outfit.
- The movie Fried Green Tomatoes contains scenes of KKK members, including one from Frank when he comes to see his son.
- The Heavy Weather story in the sixth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga series, Stone Ocean tells the story of the Weather Report character, who - due to his adoptive father's black inheritance - is almost hanged by members KKK, but fortunately survive.
- KKK is included in the video game Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, as an enemy in the Nazis who occupy the United States, although they are still under Nazi oppression despite a similar ideology.
References
External links
- Midnight Rangers: Costumes and Performances in the Ku Klux Clan Reconstruction Era
- Official [sic [i>] catalog and banners official Clan catalog
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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