Where do you think the Ku Klux Klan was strongest in the 1960s? Perhaps Mississippi or Alabama, heck maybe even Arkansas. Shockingly, all three of these guesses would be incorrect. The most liberal state in the south, North Carolina, had the largest membership of KKK members from 1966 to 1970! With over 10,000 dues-paying members and thousands of mingling spectators, how did such a cult-like following arise? The answer lies with one man: Bob Jones.
To understand Bob Jones one must first understand the origins and history of the KKK. The KKK began in Tennesse following the end of the Civil War and was led by some old Confederates. The group, like all things, started small. The founding members saw the group as a close circle of friends who used sick humor to perpetuate racism and segregation in the South. Dawning white robes, these few men would go out at night on horseback to terrorize and kill free blacks in the name of protecting the Whites. The humor of the group became obvious as membership grew. To start, the Klan has a ridiculous set of names that are used to classify rank. Instead of General, Captain, or Sargent the Klan has Wizards, Titans, Hydras, Dragons, and Cyclopses. Furthermore, the Klan had rituals in which they would circle a burning cross and sing chants. At first, this turned people away but history tells us that people are willing to do anything for a sense of belonging. The First Klan died out but a Second Klan was reborn in the 1920s with such strength that it was able to elect 10 governors. Four million members of the Second Klan marched on Washington to demonstrate their political power. Finally, the Klan went dormant again until Brown v Board of Education. The possibility of integrating schools infuriated Bob Jones and he wanted to elect officials that would ensure that did not happen. Bob also felt a spiritual connection to the Klan because his parents were both members in the 1920s and they marched on Washington.
Bob was racist in that he did not blacks or Catholics to intermingle with "his" people. HE was okay with them receiving rights and freedoms but he firmly believed in the "separate but equal" ideology. This is why Jones never stood up until Brown was decided and integration became the goal of state governments. Brown traveled all across North Carolina and set up local chapters of the KKK claiming that he had every right to use his freedom of speech. Jones historically claimed that he had the same rights as the NAACP. Wealthy whites did not become members because they did not want to mingle with Bob Jones who they saw as white trash. This only further emboldened Jones who saw the KKK as his way to gain status. Jones accepted that poor whites would not be above rich whites so he settled on surpassing blacks instead. This message resonated with rural communities in North Carolina and Jones quickly started to amass a fortune for himself as North Carolina's Grand Dragon.
By advocating for peace and using the Klan as a voting block Jones was able to keep the Federal government off his back. Furthermore, Jones and his followers hated communism which was the main focus of the FBI at the time. On record, some FBI agents supported Jones and his rhetoric on communism. Jones was on top for four years but even the sun sets in paradise. Following the death of activists in a neighboring state, LBJ came after the KKK with vigor. Jones was brought before Congress on charges of misusing Klan funds which landed him in prison for one year. After his release, the Klan was all but gone and members felt manipulated out of their money. Thank goodness that leaders tend to be corrupt because if Jones handled Klan funds correctly then the Klan would have lived on for a long time. Bob did get one final win though, in his honor, the Bob Jones University of South Carolina was established making his legacy live on for generations.
To learn more about Bob Jones, the KKK, or the Red Scare please read the links below:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/McCarthyism
http://mallhistory.org/items/show/175
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/klansville-gallery/
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