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Probably time for an FAQ that we can at least point the history-impaired to. Not that it will make any difference to someone who imagines things today are just like they were in 1865, but ... Acroterion(talk)01:40, 26 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Good point, things change over time, such as the political influence of the klan. At one time it had significant political influence and today it has none or even negative. So pick a time when it has political influence to try to define the ideology, perhaps the early 1940s. I wouldn't consider the party of FDR far-right. 2601:C2:1A00:1083:C97:F09F:996D:1B2D (talk) 12:39, 26 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
So I guess you are conceding that far-right may be an appropriate label today? And the party of FDR was a complicated one. The right-left distinction is, at the best of times, reductive, but when dealing with a splintering like the Democratic party experienced with the Dixiecrats, it can often be misleading. The article as currently presented does not hide the Klan's origins and alignment with the Democratic party, but neither should it downplay its current or historic stances and how they are described in reliable sources. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 14:37, 26 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
No, I'm suggesting that if you want to ascribe an underlying ideology, then maybe a weighted average of the predominant ideology weighted by political influence over time would be more meaningful. Or, even better, since there is no specific ideology over time, apolitical would be a better description. 2601:C2:1A00:1083:C97:F09F:996D:1B2D (talk) 15:18, 26 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
This all strikes me as sort of antithetical to the way an encyclopedia organizes information, but to each their own. As mentioned, reliable sources would help, and when you have consensus for the changes you would like to see, by all means make them. Happy Friday. Dumuzid (talk) 15:22, 26 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Antithetical, I suppose in that an encyclopedia must be continuously updated or becomes antiquated. Perhaps that results from defining something that ultimately does not exist, such as an underlying ideology for this organization. It seems to me that its ideology is fluid and ascribes to whatever is willing to support its principles of tribalism and hatred. For example, today I would say antisemitism is more aligned with a far-left ideology. I'll see what I can come up with. Have a great weekend. 2601:C2:1A00:1083:C97:F09F:996D:1B2D (talk) 16:13, 26 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
For what it's worth, I wholly agree that this edit needs to be made. There is and never has been a right-wing connection with the KKK. Yet it started out as a left-wing hate group and for the vast majority of its history that's what it was. Now it may be neither left nor right leaning in modern history, since they are all but defunct, though as even up to the last decade or two they predominantly professed and backed socialist agendas. And as this editor said, anti-semitism has very much been the province of the modern left. Brianiac5 (talk) 05:10, 14 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I have been trying to clean up the references for this article and have come across a serious issue. Many of the "sfn" refs cite a book or an article without any page numbers or chapters or quotes... To keep WP:VERIFY valid, this article needs to provide more specific information, we can't have a ref cite an entire book or an entire article to back up statements. I apologize for what might seem like drive-by tagging but I didn't know what else to do - 1)verifiability is a WP:POLICY and is important and 2)I don't have the wherewithal or the ability to research many of these sources. Someone who has the book or the article at hand or who has more knowledge of the material will have to do that. Shearonink (talk) 18:36, 2 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.
The kkk was not founded my far right republicans.
It was founded by ex confederate general and most members were southern democrats CaptKenEarl3 (talk) 19:27, 10 August 2024 (UTC)
The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866 by ex-Confederate soldiers Frank McCord, Richard Reed, John Lester, John Kennedy, J. Calvin Jones and James Crowe in Pulaski, Tennessee. The group was originally a “social club” but quickly became a violent white supremacist group.[reply]
Its first grand wizard was Nathan Bedford Forrest, an ex-Confederate general and prominent slave trader.
Experts agree the KKK attracted many ex-Confederate soldiers and Southerners who opposed Reconstruction, most of whom were Democrats. Forrest even spoke at the 1868 Democratic National Convention.
“The KKK is almost a paramilitary organization that’s trying to benefit one party. It syncs up with the Democratic Party, which really was a racist party openly at the time,” Grinspan said. “But the KKK isn’t the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party isn’t the KKK.”
Did you read the article? Where does it claim that the KKK was founded by "far-right Republicans"? (Which did not exist at the time). The Republicans of the mid-19th century were the progresdsive party, the Democrats were the reactionaries, at least in the South. The parties exchanged positions in the mid-20th century. History and party ideologies are not static. Acroterion(talk)19:51, 10 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
That is the frustration I have. When you read about the KKK herein, it clearly places blame on Republicans. Those that "Read further" can read some truths but few make it that far. It needs to start out with historical facts FIRST and then other parts could be added like David Dukes 'KKKK' after he switched parties from Democrat to Republican. David7541 (talk) 19:52, 14 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Did you really read the article? The first KKK sought to overthrow Republican power, or to oppose its policies. It was a reactionary movement. That is historical fact, and stated clearly in the article. Acroterion(talk)20:03, 14 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
You think the Democrats of that era were just like they are 150 years later? Read this page, and read the article. Learn some history. Acroterion(talk)
I want a full-blown edit done too the inaccuracies regarding the Klu Klux Klans history.
When you read about the KKK in this Wikipedia, it states that the KKK is a right wing extremist affiliated organization. It doesn't even mention that it was founded by what was a Democrat named David Duke until you read deeper. It only reads that David Dukes party affiliation is Republican, which he switched for the purposes of giving him a better chance at winning office, "per his own words."
Some aggressive editing needs to be done to this article now. People have been asking for the edits and nothing is getting done. I am about to put in a formal complaint regarding this matter.
PLEASE make these edits ASAP and exercise ACCURACY when doing so.
Nothing you describe is about inaccuracies. It seems, rather, you don't like that it accurately describes the modern KKK as being far right and that the Southern Strategy resulted in the Democrats and Republicans effectively flipping their party platforms. EvergreenFir(talk)20:35, 14 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, there are inaccuracies.
You are stating that there are none doesn't change the FACT that there are.
You are describing a "theory" of two parties platforms flipping. That is not a fact. Since when was Wikipedia placing articles based off of theory?
- One being at the beginning of the article where it states that the KKK is a "Far right" party. Is that accurate?
- How about another inaccuracy that the KKK 'David Duke founded' states herein that it was founded in Tennessee. That is also inaccurate. The original KKK was founded in Tennessee, not the Knights of the KKK, which has NO political affiliation with the old KKK other than David Duke joining. Regardless of opinion, feelings, our words used, the least that should be done for the sale of historical accuracy is use FACTS. What I stated herein regarding David Dukes KKKK not being founded in Tennessee is a fact. It is also a fact that labeling the KKKK as a 'far right' entity is erroneous and nefarious.
Can we at least address the FACTS?
FACT 1: The KKKK (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE OLD KKK) But the David Dukes "Knights of" the KKK not being founded in Tennessee, but instead was founded in Louisianna where he resided. The KKK was founded in Tennessee, not the KKKK.
FACT 2: The "New" KKK DOES NOT belong to 1 party. There are members of both Republican, Democrat and Independent. Proof? Click on David Dukes name herein and look up his original political affiliation. It will read Democrat, not Republican.
level-5 vital article is rated B-class on Wikipedia's content assessment scale.
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Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Cannolis (talk) 05:12, 13 April 2024 (UTC)
