Everyday Klansfolk: White Protestant Life and the KKK in 1920s Michigan Kindle Edition

Craig Fox has written a fascinating history and interpretation of the resurgent KKK in the 1920's and 1930's. While his primary thrust is the Klan in Michigan, Fox provides a great deal of background about the modern Klan as a whole and then brings it home to Michigan, thus giving it a helpful context. I am especially impressed given that Fox has written this as an "outsider," but perhaps that is why he is also able to be more objective. This isn't his nation's Klan, it's ours. I was particularly interested in the subject since I am a native of Fremont, Michigan and discovered that some of the membership cards that he used for his research were those of my own relatives (two of whom lived in Mecosta County at the time and were recruited, relieved of their dues money by the recruiter and never heard from him or the Klan again). Another family member is mentioned by name because he was also very active in his community and church. It is interesting to know how Klan's brief success and influence was influenced by the movie "Birth of a Nation" as well as a very well orchestrated marketing campaign, playing off peoples' fears and need to protect themselves (they thought) from people not like themselves. It is also interesting to me to hear some of the same propaganda used by the Klan 90 years ago now being used by far right groups in our country on subjects like immigration and job protection. Obviously, we have not learned much from our own history of intolerance and over-exuberant self-love of white Protestantism under the guise of patriotism since we have modern groups espousing the same beliefs and values in new packaging.

Very interesting book based primarily on the records held at Clarke Historical Library for the Newaygo County Chapter of the 1920s Ku Klux Klan. Discusses the role of the Klan as a money-making pyramid scheme as well as a social outlet for rural America while still providing a urban viewpoint through a contemporary Detroit Klansman's observations. Fox also conducts a detailed analysis of the relationships between various Klansmen, which reveals novel recruiting patterns that place this iteration of the Klan within the larger fraternal order network.

Mr. Fox does a superb job of explaining the Klan's position in society during the 1920s in his volume Everyday Klansfolk: White Protestant Life and the KKK in 1920s Michigan. His research is excellent. I checked some of his original sources such as "The Fiery Cross" newspaper (Indiana version) from the 20s and find his interpretations on target. Of greatest interest are his explanations of the Klan's corporate marketing structure as a key recruiting and profiteering operation. Well done.

I found this to be well documented and well written. It was particularly interesting to me as a Michigan resident; however, it shows how easily ordinary citizens can be influenced by their peers. Curiosity and good advertising caused those people to join the Klan and it showed me a parallel to today's elections.

Intriguing information.