Richie Havens – The Klan – lyrics about the terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan.
In this day and age it is easy to think of terrorism as something perpetrated by religious fanatics, brainwashed and packed off with their bombs to blow up innocent people in trains, planes, mosques and buses. That is not always the case.
The Ku Klux Klan were a terrorist organisation with the sole intent of maintaining White Supremacy by instigating terror in the Southern Black population.
They used hoods, burning crosses, pseudo-Christian rhetoric and gibberish and weren’t above threats, beatings, shootings, arson and lynching to make a point. They ruled through terror.
It took a brave man to stand up to the Klan. Their reach was long, forgiveness none and retribution vicious.
Where evil lives it is up to all good people to stand up and oppose it!
The Klan
The countryside was cold and still
There were three crosses upon the hill
Each one wore a burning hood
To hide its rotten heart of wood
And I cried
Father I hear the iron sound
Hoofbeats on the frozen ground
Down from the hills the riders came
Lord, it was a crying shame
To see the blood upon their whips
And hear the snarling of their lips
And I cried
Mother I feel a stabbing pain
Blood flows down like a summer rain
Each one wore a mask of white
To hide his cruel face from sight
and each one sucked a hungery breath
Out of the empty lungs of death
And I cried
Sister raise my bloody head
It’s so lonesome to be dead
He who rides with the Klan
He is a devil and not a man
For underneath that white disguise
I have looked into his eyes
Brother, stand with me
it’s not easy to be free
I’m glad you characterized the Klan as the terrorists they were/are. The song had it right – pure evil. It takes great courage to stand up to these devils. There are no redeeming qualities here – the Klan is hate personified.
Malvina Reynolds stood up to them. She was one feisty woman – a person of great courage, insight and integrity.
Were/are is right. Acts of terror by white supremacists persist. They are weaker than they used to be, but still are active. They helped elect the current US president.
Bumba you are right. We have to be on our guard. But these days they are a minor irritant rather than a terrifying force to be reckoned with. Their day has passed, thank heavens. They are a pathetic bunch of losers.
True, they are weaker, but they are still around. The KKK still has meetings. Trump accepted the support of David Duke. The nationalistic stuff is the same lady in a different dress.
There is a resurgence of the right exemplified by Trump and Brexit, the rise of fascist groups on the continent and the rabid right Tories – but I think it is already dissipating.
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
In these days when we are finally doing something about racism with Black Lives Matter this song says it all – it’s not easy to be free!
Yeah, but the revolution won’t be televised…
Unfortunately neither will Gil Scott Heron.