Not all prejudice is secret or denied; there are racial organisations active in Britain and America right now. These groups are openly racist and prejudice. In America, the Ku Klux Klan, or KKK, are, and have been, a racial organisation since 1866. More recently, the Ku Klux Klan were believed to have downsized and, according to some people, no longer existed. However the Klan is still active in America right now; see Appendix 2.
The Ku Klux Klan believes in many things, but mainly they believe that white Christians are superior to any other race or religion. Due to this, to be a member of the Klan, you must not have a trace of another race of religion in your blood. The Klan also believes, and worries, that America will become over-populated with non-whites. The following is a quote from their official website ‘www.kkk.com’; ‘we envision an America in which our borders are secure and non-whites who don’t share our concepts of liberty find entrance impossible. We envision an America in which all races are given an opportunity to return to their native lands, to govern themselves and to choose their own destiny. We envision an America where those non-whites choosing to stay to enjoy the benefits of Christian living are respected, protected, and given the opportunity to prosper to the best of their ability while recognizing the lawful authority of White Christians to rule over America. A guest in your home is always expected to respect your authority. Likewise non-whites who reside in America should be expected to conduct themselves according to Christian principals and must recognize that race mixing is definitely wrong and out of the question. It will be a privilege to live under the authority of a compassionate White Christian government.
Racist organisations are not only found in America, the British National Front is a political organisation that has seats in parliament. They believe that coloured and Muslim people do not belong in Britain because, according to the National Front, they are dangerous and evil. The National Front believes that other races are outsiders, indicated by the following quote from their website ‘www.natfront.com’. ‘We advocate a mono-racial society: we live in a nation that is historically of the white race and we will stabilise our population by introducing a complete halt to all further immigration into our country. Coupled with this we will begin a programme that will result in the repatriation of all non-White people living here to their countries of ethnic origin.’
The National Front believes that they are doing the right thing for Britain and think of themselves as patriots fighting for the freedom of Britain. This is best shown on their website ‘www.natfront.com’ where I found the quote ‘If you think Britain is worth fighting for, join with us.’
Some racial incidences are more serious than others and these incidences can contain a murder. These incidences are more rare, but they are taking place too frequently.
One example of a more serious incidence is the murder of James Byrd Jr., age forty-nine. Mr Byrd was killed on June 8th 1998 in Texas, when three white men beat the black man unconscious, tied him to the back of their pick-up truck and dragged him along behind them as they drove away.
Mr Byrd’s ‘badly mangled’ body was found by the town’s Deputy Sheriff. A head and right arm were found a short distance away.
Texas police later arrested three white men. John William King, age twenty-three, Lawrence Russell Brewer Jr, age thirty-one, and Shawn Allen Berry, age twenty-three, were all convicted for the murder of James Byrd Jr. Two of the three men were given the death penalty.
These serious attacks do not just occur in America. On July 29th of this year, a black, eighteen year old student, Anthony Walker, was viciously attacked by four white men, who left him dying, with an axe embedded in his head in Huyton, Merseyside.
Mr Walker was waiting for a bus with his girlfriend and a male cousin. While waiting, a man wearing a hooded top subjected a ‘torrent of racial abuse’ towards Mr Walker and his companions, who left to find another bus stop. As they left, they were followed and, as they walked through McGlodrick Park, a gang of four men attacked.
Mr Walker’s girlfriend and cousin saw a man carrying an axe attack Anthony and they ran to get help. Unfortunately, when they returned, they found Anthony slumped on the floor. Mr Walker was taken to Whiston hospital, but he died the next day.
In conclusion, I believe that the quote ‘the world of prejudice that Harper Lee reveals is as evident and relevant today as it was when she wrote the book’ is true and, based on the evidence that racial groups still exist and that racially motivated crimes and killings are still occurring on a daily basis, I am sure you will agree.
Appendix 1
Police Report
Appendix 2
Proof that Ku Klux Klan exist
Source: www.kkk.com
