Softsong: I have not researched the KKK, but generally speaking, I doubt most Polish immigrants (at least the ones from the early 1900's) would join such a group. Most immigrants come to the USA in the north where of course racism exists, but the KKK was most active in the south. Interesting question though, maybe I'll dig around and look. O.K. The KKK formed largely in the 1920's and in addition to being against Blacks and Jews, they frowned on immigration. At that time there was the belief that northern Europeans were superior to eastern Europeans and southern European immigrants. Plus the KKK was Protestant. Therefore, not only would it be odd for a Pole to join this group, they would be considered undesirable and not allowed.
KKK was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee (oh the irony) by returning from war confederate soldiers. The Greek letters were chosen from the Greek work "kuklos" or circle, circle of brothers. Initially it was basically a fraternity of brothers who were to help each other out when needed. It soon turned into an organization fighting integration with the blacks and targeting the Republican party members (Republicans were against slavery). Any person who was against the integration was welcome. Technically there were three waves of kkk but that's irrelevant for this discussion.
After all those years in the US, most of it in the south, I'm yet to meet a kkk supporter. I think there's far more racism in the north and in California than in the south but that's a different story. I've actually visited Pulaski in the past as I was stationed not too far away for a while. Not much to see there but most people I talked to were very embarrassed about the kkk association their town had in the past.
delphiandomine: Sounds like typical racist Polonia nonsense.
No, this is typical racist nonsense. Has nothing to do with Polonia but as always you fail to see that.
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