QUERY: KKK Cross Burning

H-POL/Civwar co-moderator Peter Knupfer (pknupfer@ksu.ksu.edu)
Sun, 31 Jul 1994 07:56:14 -0500

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Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 09:23:19 EST5EDT
From: Michael Ludwick <MIKE%grants.wm.edu@KSUVM.KSU.EDU>

Perhaps I missed this thread from the beginning, but when did
the practice cross of burning begin?

I remember hearing somewhere (don't quote me on this) that cross-
burning symbolized "purification" in some way. Burning releases
impurities of course and I supposed this was an allusion to the KKK's
desire to purify the South by maintaining white supremacy and
getting rid of uncooperative blacks. Any insight or thoughts on this?

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