The Power of Rituals - Guideline or Risk?
Racist ritual :
Members of the Ku Klux Klan in front of a burning cross
Once a month, the members of the so-called Ku Klux clan, or KKK for short, meet at a secret location in the south of the USA. What unites them are racist ideologies. The members come from all walks of life. In the 1920s, millions of Americans committed to the KKK. Since its inception, the clan has been a kind of "white race resistance" against black equality. Even though the clan is comparatively small today, its impact still seems massive. The KKK uses strong and striking symbols at its meetings: the white hooded robes stand for purity and cleanliness. This differentiates the members from the groups that they perceive as dirty and inferior. The highlight of every event is the burning cross. It is supposed to symbolize the light of Jesus Christ that pushes back the darkness. And it is considered a "warning cross" against unpopular community members. The customs, symbols and rituals are an expression of flaming hatred. Even 150 years after the founding of the Ku Klux clan, they ensure group ties among followers and at the same time differentiation from others.