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Legacy of Hate

Legacy of Hate

Date: Dec 21 2007

Themes: Alternative

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Americans have to be careful when they want to dress up in a ghost costume. What could be risky about cutting a couple of eye holes in a white sheet and throwing it over your head? Well, if the sheet is too pointy, you might be mistaken for a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

After the black slaves were freed at the end of the Civil War in 1865, the KKK formed as a fraternal organization to oppose people non-whites and non-Christians, often violently. Their white robes and pointed hoods became symbols of hate and fear.

The group was outlawed for a time, but became very strong in the 1920s. There were as many as 5 million members of the group, some of whom famously terrorized black people and Jews with burning crosses and lynchings.

Though racism has thankfully been on the decline in the last few decades, the KKK surprisingly still exists. It’s now a political party that doesn’t advocate violence or hate, but small, independent groups of the KKK still promote racism.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Amanda

Marni

Marni

Amanda:  So did you know that there are actually 150 chapters of the KKK in the United States? About 8,000 active members today.

Marni:  I did not.

Amanda:  How does that make you feel?

Marni:  Well it’s kind of shocking. You know, I’d like to think that a racist organization such as the Ku Klux Klan is not longer in operation, but apparently 8,000 people still believe in it.

Amanda:  Absolutely and for whatever reason, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, that’s the hub.

Marni:  The Northwest of America.

Amanda:  They were told that that was the part that would be the most welcoming, back in the day.

Marni:  Interesting. It seems like it was originally in the South and then it sort of spread…

Amanda:  That’s right, it spread all into the Northwest.

Marni:  So I feel like I’ve sort of detached myself from the KKK

Amanda:  That’s a good thing!

Marni:  Well, obviously I’ve never subscribed to their belief system, but 8,000 people still believing in it. Do they still don the white robes and do that ritualistic…

Amanda:  They do, and they have their marches, I don’t want to call them parades, that’s a little positive, but they have their marches, they have their congregations and meetings in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. There is quite the following still with the literature and the brochures and the meetings and they have their little programs…

Marni:  Okay, so are they tied in to skinheads at all?

Amanda:  They are. So it’s Aryan Nation, white supremacy, homophobia, you name it, anti-communism, anti-Semitism. A lot of antis. Very negative.

 

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Discussion

Amanda and Marni are surprised that there are still thousands of members of the KKK in the United States, many of them in Northwest, which is where Amanda and Marni live.

Marni asks if the KKK is connected to skinheads. Amanda says they’re all part of the Aryan Nation, which is a group that supports white supremacy. That’s only partially true. Some skinheads and clan members aren’t racists.

Did you know about KKK? Are there fascist groups in your country?
Interesting Fact: Several religious groups in Spain use pointed hoods in various colors including white for parades and rituals. These groups predate the KKK by hundreds of years, and many Spanish people are unaware of the Klan and their similar clothes.

 

Comments

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henz988

China

How can I download its audio?

12:14 PM Jun 22 2008 |

Jajani

Jajani

Sri Lanka

Thanks for the information.Wish it was legacy of Love  !

Surprised

 

07:59 AM Mar 13 2008 |

Cat-76

Cat-76

Belgium

Yes so stupid. Ethnicity to day what does it mean?We all have genes from multiple races. Racism is became so stupide. 

I read this new some days ago it's so funny, and good to read for all rascists.  " Do you remember Watson this Genetic nobel prize who suggesting black people  are not as intelligent as whites? Then 16 percent of the DNA to this man is African :-). In reality it wasPerhaps this genetical races mix  that have done to him this great genetician. But I don't know… this must be his great age, that made him say such stupidities …

the link to read the news : http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/watsons-black-dna-ultimate-irony/

04:00 PM Jan 10 2008 |

lathy

lathy

Viet Nam

In fact,i don't get the meaning of some words,but this one is so good for me.Now I know wht the "KKK" is!

03:19 PM Dec 27 2007 |

darui

darui

China

This is a good matiral

 

10:14 AM Dec 27 2007 |

t k awan

t k awan

Pakistan

It is not bad.

12:01 PM Dec 26 2007 |

风中的游儿

风中的游儿

China

说的太快了   我懂听不懂

02:12 PM Dec 25 2007 |

adey.didi

adey.didi

China

我是一个没什么基础的人,进来就像个瞎子了.要努力才行了.

03:48 PM Dec 24 2007 |

super cobra

Viet Nam

it’s ok. nothing special.

12:59 PM Dec 24 2007 |

jbamoateng441

Ghana

 I still stand by my view that rasicm should be discuraged.

10:26 AM Dec 24 2007 |

Christoph07

Germany

Hm, one of the interesting themes.
A german king ‘Friedrich 2nd’ from Prussia sayd: The winners (of a war) are writing the history. So at first I cant belive that the onliest reason of civil war in USA was the slavery. Secondly I’ve heard that some leaders from the Confederations Army were without political rights after civil war. So it was a nesesary to protect the identity at political meetings after war. When this is true, history including of kkk will be not black or white – it’s like everything – grew. Perhaps more americans will comment this.
Today we have another situation and I think these people are crazy. I’am sure they are not dangerous for democratic systems in U.S.:-)
In Germany we have also some stupid people in oure political system. But they are also not dangerous. To have a movement like kkk it’s not allowed in Germany because it is forbidden to protect the face at political demonstrations.

08:31 AM Dec 24 2007 |

ranguangcan

China

我也是可怜哦

07:20 AM Dec 24 2007 |

herozhwg

herozhwg

China

good

04:20 AM Dec 24 2007 |

herozhwg

herozhwg

China

It 's

04:17 AM Dec 24 2007 |

herozhwg

herozhwg

China

It

04:17 AM Dec 24 2007 |

jinlejuan

jinlejuan

China

broaden eyesight,and the people today who are still believing it and so poor .

03:08 AM Dec 24 2007 |

derder

derder

China

Smileignorant of

12:45 AM Dec 24 2007 |

angelliao

angelliao

China

I'm agree with you!

12:41 AM Dec 24 2007 |

talila

talila

Algeria

i think it's good to aware of this organisations but it's better to ignore them and learn about positive actions like organisations that fight against violence , poverty and humain rights

08:57 PM Dec 23 2007 |

ruzzy17

Ghana

khu

05:29 PM Dec 23 2007 |

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