Loading...

Messages

Proposals

Stuck in your homework and missing deadline? Get urgent help in $10/Page with 24 hours deadline

Get Urgent Writing Help In Your Essays, Assignments, Homeworks, Dissertation, Thesis Or Coursework & Achieve A+ Grades.

Privacy Guaranteed - 100% Plagiarism Free Writing - Free Turnitin Report - Professional And Experienced Writers - 24/7 Online Support

Why does the kkk burn crosses

09/01/2021 Client: saad24vbs Deadline: 7 Days

Burning of Cross


Burning of Cross


Name


Class


Date


Professor


Burning of Cross


The burning of a cross in America is a symbolic act associated with hate, prejudice, and many, many injustices. The burning cross emerged during a time when racial tension was at its highest and members of the Ku Klux Klan used this as a symbol for their hatred of African Americans. In the South there has always been a major racial divide that still exists until this day. During a time when African American were fighting for equality and to live in a society free of discrimination while the opposition, some Southern White Americans, and members of the white supremacy group, the Ku Klux Klan fought to keep African Americans as second class citizens.


History


Burning of the cross originated from Scotland when warriors would light a cross as a symbol of faith for their journey into the battle (Adams, 1993). The Scots also used the cross as a warning with marauders or enemies attempted to bring battle to their doorstep. The Klan began in 1866 in Tennessee as a group similar to the Knights Templar as a mysterious society who dealt out justice in the countryside as they saw fit. The name of the Ku Klux Klan was derived from the Greek word kyklos, meaning "circle," and the Scottish-Gaelic word "clan," which was probably chosen for the sake of alliteration (Adams, 1993)


Originally the American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan the group claims burning a cross is a ritual of the group based on an ancient ritual designed to create an unconquerable race of men. The Ku Klux Klan believes white men are this unconquerable race and should be the most powerful race on earth. Back when the Ku Klux Klan originated blood sacrifices were made to the fiery cross to ensure the white race would prevail. When the group originated in Pulaski, Tennessee as a secret society they wore masks to hide their identities.


The first burning of the cross occurred when William J. Simmons, the founder of the Klan in its second incarnation (1915-1944), cobbled together a cross and burned it at a meeting of the newly-established Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1915 (Adams, 1993). Flaming crosses have been a Klan trademark ever since but were not originally intended to intimidate but to instead honor the traditions of past Scottish clansmen. Overtime the use of the cross changed when people began to associate the burning cross with the Klan. The burning cross was then used to warn anyone who went against the Klan but especially against minorities after the Civil War.


Purpose


The burning of the cross will always be a symbol of a terrible time in American history. White supremacy groups would burn crosses in front of the homes, church, and businesses of African American citizens who dared oppose their goal of white racial superiority. The KKK was determined to create fear through violence and burning crosses. African American citizens quickly began to understand the symbol of the cross. The burning cross in the front yard of an African American citizen’s home or business was designed to intimidate and force the African American citizen to vote the way to group wanted.


Cross burning began as a ritual of the Ku Klux Klan but ended up as a tool used for violence and intimidation. African American citizens with burning crosses in their front yards understood this was a warning from the white supremacist group and people that did not comply would mysteriously disappear or later be found hanging from a tree. The burning cross quickly became a symbol of hate and represented the ignorance of the people in the South before the social and political change that was ushered in with the Civil Rights Movement. While cross burning is a medieval practice, in the South it became a Racist practice perpetuated by Christian in the South.


Legal Ramifications of Cross Burning


Many states ban the burning of a cross, such as California, Florida, and Virginia. In Virginia the law against burning crosses was tested in the case of Virginia vs. Black. The case began when Barry Black, leader of the Ku Klux Klan, burned a cross in a county and Virginia and was charged and found guilty of cross burning. Black appealed finding the government should not have the authority to regulate a form of symbolic expression especially when the purpose of burning the cross was not to intimate but for a ritual for him and his fellow brothers in the Klan. (Gey, 2005).


Black claimed the flag burning law in Virginia was a violation of his constitutional right to free speech under the First Amendment. The First Amendment allows groups in society to freely express their beliefs without interruption by the government. Black claimed the flag burning law violated his ability to freely express his beliefs. In return the Supreme Court allowed for violations of free speech if the free speech is being used to intimidate, as a threat, or to incite violence. Since the burning of the cross symbolizes a past of violence, hate, and tragedy the court ruled it was not protected speech.


The final ruling of the court was crosses cannot be burned if the goal of the burning of the cross is to create fear, incite violence and for purposes of hate as well as create a true threat. Crosses can only be burned if they are being burned for a ritual. Despite this ruling the court determined Virginia’s cross burning law was in fact unconstitutional because juries are instructed to consider any types of cross burning to be illegal (Brannon, 2003). Under the First Amendment citizens have freedom of religion and the freedom to express these religious beliefs. When a burning of cross ritual is religious it is protected. Virginia’s law does not provide this protection.


As a result of the Supreme Courts ruling in Virginia vs. Black not all cross burning will be considered a form of coercion or threat due to a previous history of cross burning for spiritual purposes. The dissenting vote found that the majority vote was wrong and in fact the history of cross burning in Scotland does not affect American society and has never influenced cross burning for spiritual purposes. The only reason crosses have been burned in America is in order to intimidate minorities and strike fear of the potential repercussions they will face if they do not do as the white supremacy group wishes.


Burning of the cross is not a religious and it is not a positive part of American history. Free speech should never pertain to hate or embrace a history of hate as with the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacy groups. Cross burning should be illegal in all fifty states and result in hate crime charges when they are burned in order to intimidate or strike fear in the heart of an African American citizen. Throughout Southern American history Klan, cross burnings has been used as a tool to intimidate and threaten imminent violence against minorities and groups in society that do not embrace their beliefs or accept their racist behavior.


Conclusion


In the United States the burning of the cross has one significant meaning and that is off hate. Despite the recent ruling of the Supreme Court this behavior should never be conducted for any reason and should be a forbidden practice for all American citizens. If a cross is burned at the home or business of an African American citizen it is automatically assumed this is an act of intimidation because it is. There is no other reason to burn a cross than to send a message of hate or a warning to some group in society.


References


Adams, C. (1993). Why does the Ku Klux Klan burn crosses? Retrieved February 25, 2014 from


http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1038/why-does-the-ku-klux-klan-burn-crosses


Brannon, C L. (2003). Note, Constitutional Law—Hate Speech—First Amendment Permits Ban


on Cross Burning When Done with the Intent to Intimidate, Miss. L. J. 73(1): 323.


Gey, S. (2005). A Few Questions About Cross Burning, Intimidation, and Free Speech, Notre


Dame L. Rev. 80: 1287.

Homework is Completed By:

Writer Writer Name Amount Client Comments & Rating
Instant Homework Helper

ONLINE

Instant Homework Helper

$36

She helped me in last minute in a very reasonable price. She is a lifesaver, I got A+ grade in my homework, I will surely hire her again for my next assignments, Thumbs Up!

Order & Get This Solution Within 3 Hours in $25/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 3 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

Order & Get This Solution Within 6 Hours in $20/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 6 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

Order & Get This Solution Within 12 Hours in $15/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 12 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

6 writers have sent their proposals to do this homework:

Best Coursework Help
Homework Guru
Writer Writer Name Offer Chat
Best Coursework Help

ONLINE

Best Coursework Help

I am an Academic writer with 10 years of experience. As an Academic writer, my aim is to generate unique content without Plagiarism as per the client’s requirements.

$100 Chat With Writer
Homework Guru

ONLINE

Homework Guru

Hi dear, I am ready to do your homework in a reasonable price and in a timely manner.

$102 Chat With Writer

Let our expert academic writers to help you in achieving a+ grades in your homework, assignment, quiz or exam.

Similar Homework Questions

Australia tax table weekly - The glass castle quotes with page numbers - Boiling and condensation point of water - Family therapy goldenberg 9th edition pdf - Keith rn case study answers pdf - Estate planning 2.7 2 a2 answer key - Lord of the flies movie piggy dies - In the park gwen harwood themes essential energy network map - Mylabs px pearsoned - Loveliest of trees poem meaning - Article review - 3 page paper - Into thin air chapter summary - Stephen hawking free will - Discussion - Cultural object is understood in a broad manner as an object, space that ‘communicates’ cultural or symbolic values and can entail an advertisement, a garment, an exhibition, an Instagramm account, or a retail space. - Stock Structure and Risk - Sea moss dr axe - Ethical and Moral Final Paper - The fourteenth mental measurements yearbook - Apa citation for the belmont report - How much are tires marked up - Maintain currency of safe work practices - College softball field dimensions - Sample syllabus for art appreciation - Anu unofficial timetable semester 2 2021 - Evaluating a good dance - 3 pages with strong reference page - License application form rms 1001 - DONT MESSAGE BEFORE READING. NEED A CHEMISTRY EXPERT!!!!! - 3rs reduce reuse recycle ppt - Synthes plates and screws - Simple stud service contract - Inferential questions reading comprehension - A rose for emily images - University of hertfordshire holidays - Hearing and recording sounds in words scoring sheet - Data related to the inventories of costco medical supply - Cisco rv220w network security firewall price - Standpoint Theory Critical Thinking Question - Str 581 week 5 knowledge check - Strategic position and action evaluation space - Systemic ethical issues chocolate slavery - Gross and net income 5th grade - Analyzing the article some lessons from the assembly line - Describe the relationship between the uv index (the colored bar in figure 1) and latitude (y-axis). - Critical thinking - Basic skills map skills 6 8 answers - Vigilant fire alarm system - Examples of inferential questions - Final draft inclusivity analysis - List of statutory liabilities - Single subject design social work - Corporate Finance - Lab challenge assigning user rights - Assignment 8 - Cash register c++ - Which word set completes the following analogy librarian books - History Paper - Hamble distribution ltd wolverhampton - 67 falie drive north haven - Belbin team roles coordinator - Week 7B - Change management theories and models pdf - Discussion(TM) - Genetics x linked genes worksheet fruit flies answers - Ancient egyptian makeup tools - University of washington latin american studies - EP-1: Draft for Peer Review - What is the nca credo for ethical communication - Prysmian lv cable catalogue - Calorimetry enthalpy of neutralization lab report - Recruiting by ea mackintosh analysis - Bus pass redcar and cleveland - What are the needs and wants of ancient communities - Big Data and Internet of Things - Five paragraph essay sample - The aggregate supply curve is upward sloping in - Anticipated nursing interventions for hypoglycemia - BE- Paper-1 - IT Policy Compliance and Compliance Technologies - As nzs 4360 2004 risk management - Click and learn csi wildlife student worksheet answer key - What are the five types of governmental funds - High jump recording sheet - Little heath sixth form - Philosophy - Nursing research mcq with answers - Aaba form in music - Thank you esther forbes - Journal of juvenile law - Estraven and genly ai - Playstation network london gb pos authorisation - How client data is protected in an online therapy setting - Belcon cleaning supplies seaford - Hubbell lighting controls nx - Bsbcmm401 make a presentation ppt - Preparation of methyl salicylate lab report - Discussion Board - Due in 24 Hours - 300 Words - 2 APA Scholarly References - No Extension - The color of water