The Invisible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Florida by Michael Newton
'The Invisible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Florida' is a well-researched and lucidly written history of one of the world's most odious collections of misfits and mentally-miserable maladroits ever to occupy human form. How they ever learned to walk upright is still an evolutionary mystery.
Michael Newton succeeds in revealing the Klan's true character in two ways. He recounts its sordid history with objective precision and also allows the Klan to reveal itself through the thoughts and words of its members. A prime example of this revelatory technique is the letter written by Reverend Leroy Lard, the Grand Wizard of the Florida Chapter. The correspondence, with its loudly self-righteous letterhead, appears on page 143:
'FLORIDA UNITED CHRISTIAN KLANSMEN UNDER PRESIDENTIAL SEAL
May 6 1972
My Fellow Klansmen,
While I sat last night watching 'I Love Lucy', Mighty Jehova fell upon me during the ad break and implanted a glorious vision into my unconscious recess. At first I thought I'd sat on the remote but when I found it in my popcorn carton, I knew that The Divine was at work. Light filled the room, even though I hadn't paid the power bill for eight months, and a new energy flowed through my veins. My wife said it was the moonshine I'd guzzled but when I pointed out that my hood didn't have a mouth hole, she, too, agreed that I'd been touched by The Celestial Commander. As the vision crystallized, the road ahead of our Chapter was an ocean of opportunity. My wife said it was more like a ridiculously mixed metaphor. I should have followed Momma's advice and not married a high school graduate. It doesn't matter. I know what has to be done.
Brothers, if our organization is to maintain its relevance in these dark days preceeding the Apocalypse, we must adopt the marketing strategies of our country's major corporations. 'International Business Machines' rose to prominence when it shortened its name to 'IBM'. Other companies, including KFC, MGM and AT&T found success after each decided that their group's initials were more effective in establishing their brand. I have determined, therefore, that our message of moral and intellectual supremacy would be globally enhanced if we adopted the same practice.
Accordingly, my God-fearing, fashionably-hooded Brethren, I decree that from today, all White House correspondence, media releases and world-wide publicity pamphlets clearly show our Chapter's newly abbreviated name.
Yours sincerely,
Righteous Reverend Leroy Lard
Grand Wizard
F.U.C.K.U.P.S.'
The Florida Chapter certainly made a name for itself.
Michael Newton succeeds in revealing the Klan's true character in two ways. He recounts its sordid history with objective precision and also allows the Klan to reveal itself through the thoughts and words of its members. A prime example of this revelatory technique is the letter written by Reverend Leroy Lard, the Grand Wizard of the Florida Chapter. The correspondence, with its loudly self-righteous letterhead, appears on page 143:
'FLORIDA UNITED CHRISTIAN KLANSMEN UNDER PRESIDENTIAL SEAL
May 6 1972
My Fellow Klansmen,
While I sat last night watching 'I Love Lucy', Mighty Jehova fell upon me during the ad break and implanted a glorious vision into my unconscious recess. At first I thought I'd sat on the remote but when I found it in my popcorn carton, I knew that The Divine was at work. Light filled the room, even though I hadn't paid the power bill for eight months, and a new energy flowed through my veins. My wife said it was the moonshine I'd guzzled but when I pointed out that my hood didn't have a mouth hole, she, too, agreed that I'd been touched by The Celestial Commander. As the vision crystallized, the road ahead of our Chapter was an ocean of opportunity. My wife said it was more like a ridiculously mixed metaphor. I should have followed Momma's advice and not married a high school graduate. It doesn't matter. I know what has to be done.
Brothers, if our organization is to maintain its relevance in these dark days preceeding the Apocalypse, we must adopt the marketing strategies of our country's major corporations. 'International Business Machines' rose to prominence when it shortened its name to 'IBM'. Other companies, including KFC, MGM and AT&T found success after each decided that their group's initials were more effective in establishing their brand. I have determined, therefore, that our message of moral and intellectual supremacy would be globally enhanced if we adopted the same practice.
Accordingly, my God-fearing, fashionably-hooded Brethren, I decree that from today, all White House correspondence, media releases and world-wide publicity pamphlets clearly show our Chapter's newly abbreviated name.
Yours sincerely,
Righteous Reverend Leroy Lard
Grand Wizard
F.U.C.K.U.P.S.'
The Florida Chapter certainly made a name for itself.
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