The Bright Fiery Cross: The Role of Hostile Rituals for the Second Ku Klux Klan

Abstract

To this day, the Ku Klux Klan remains one of the most recognizable and infamous organizations in American history. That enduring image can be credited to the mobilization of ritual by the Klan’s second incarnation, with cross burnings being the central element of all Klan activity. Utilizing theoretical conceptions of ritual activity, I illustrate the dimensions of Klan ritual within their communities, such as their valorization of the past and the encouragement of “klannish” behavior. However, I argue that traditional theories have neglected the impact rituals have on outsiders, since Klan rituals were also designed to intimidate and threaten groups they despised. Ultimately, I demonstrate that rituals like cross burnings operate as “hostile rituals, where they elevate and reinforce the insider community while simultaneously attacking outsider groups. In my conclusion, I urge scholars of religion to understand the hostile dimensions of rituals and their presence across American history.