Strategic Communication and Persuasion: Examining the KKK's Methods

This essay examines the strategic communication and persuasion techniques employed by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) to promote their ideology of white supremacy, anti-immigration, and anti-Catholicism. It delves into how the Klan utilized persuasive methods such as marches, cross burnings, and promises of safeguarding white womanhood to attract and retain members. The essay also analyzes the ethical dilemmas associated with the Klan's violent and extremist activities, and evaluates their communication strategies through models like William McGuire's Model of Persuasion and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM). The use of symbols like the "Blood Drop" Cross and burning crosses as non-verbal communication techniques is also explored, highlighting how the Klan synchronized their objectives with the emotions of people to maximize community involvement and maintain their influence.

Running head: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
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Introduction
Different organizational varied kinds of persuasive communication methods to spread
their message of the objectives that drives their activities. The communication plays a major part
in making the people aware of the motifs and thereby builds alliance with the different clans. The
organization that will be considered as per the discussion is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), which is
commonly known as the Klan. It refers to three different secret movements that were undertaken
by the organization in the US.
The main objective of the Klan was to prove the white supremacy, anti-immigration and
more specifically anti-Catholicism. It has helped the Klan in undertaking different aspects of the
change in the systems of the operations as per the objectives of the organization. The Klan used
physical and mental assault to fulfill their objective of glorifying the white communities against
the blacks. Blee (2008) stated that the major objective of the members of the Klan is to protect
the interests of the “white womanhood” against all odds. The major objective of the Klan was to
undertake extremist steps to bring forth “purification” of the American society. Simmons (1917)
stated that the major goal of the Klan was to protect the sanctity of the nation and the chastity of
womanhood. They also aimed to maintain white supremacy and thereby teach and inculcate a
proper spiritual approach among the people through exalted ritualism.
The opposition from different groups and leaders including prominent Protestant
ministers as Reinhold Niebuhr in Detroit and the Jewish Anti-Defamation League has affected
the proper functioning of the organization as per the objectives of the same. The opposition
groups tried their best in penetrating into the activities that are planned by the Klan, which has
resulted to the decline of the functioning of the Klan. The persuasive technique that was

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undertaken by the Klan for communication with the team members are based on the objective of
purifying the Americanism. The discussion will be aimed at understanding the different manner
in which the Klan has taken steps to communicate and persuade the new recruits to the clan. The
communication techniques that are undertaken by the clan have helped in maintaining their
smooth functioning as per the objectives of purifying Americanism.
Discussion
The movements of the Klan are dependent on the persuasive techniques they utilized for
communicating their purpose for undertaking the different activities. It has helped the Klan in
attracting the youth into their foundation for bringing forth reforms in the systems of the nation.
The persuasive techniques that were utilized by the Klan earlier were through the marches that
were organized on behalf of the Klan. They also burned crosses and prohibited the voting rights
of the blacks to retain the American lifestyle. However, the mass murder and threats of violence
has affected the ethical standpoints. The consideration of the different ethical dilemmas as per
the activities of the Klan has affected the proper functioning of the members of the same.
Terrorism and violence was used as a way of purging out the impurities of the society, more
specifically the immigrants, which affected the employability of the nation. Clawson (2014)
stated that the application of violence on the different circumstances and the manner in which the
purgation was undertaken by the Klan can be referred to as a radical movement which has
affected the moral of the people in the nation. On the other hand, Lewis (2013) argued that the
activities that were undertaken by the Klan members aimed at establishing an order in the US
lifestyle which has helped in the evolution of the nation in the present days. The 15th amendment
of the US constitution portrayed, “The right of the American citizens to vote shall not be denied
because of race or color.” was established in the year 1870 (Newton, 2014). However, the Klan

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continued to undertake their activities opposing the blacks and prohibiting them to utilize their
right of voting.
The different persuasive methods that were utilized by the Klan were dependent on the
promises of safeguarding the interests of Womanhood. On the other hand, Lewis (2013) stated
that the identification of the unemployment by the Klan and their activities based on improving
the situation has helped in persuading the youth to be involved in the movement. Consideration
of the interests of the whites and the manner in which a proper American lifestyle can be induced
among the people has helped in maintaining the different levels of changes on the systems of the
revolution. The method that was utilized by the Klan members for persuading the youth is based
on the preservation of the culture and the heritage of the American lifestyle from the foreign
infiltrators. Parsons (2015) stated that the persuasion helped in facilitating the involvement of
the different youth members in the right winged party which aimed at purging the inferior blacks
for maintaining the objective of the white supremacy. On the other hand, the marches that were
undertaken by the Klan members made the youth aware of the different security policies that the
members of the Klan would be provided with against the infiltrators and other forces.
William McGuire's Model of Persuasion has helped in the identification of the different
aspects of the change that are considered by the Klan members, which has helped them in
persuading the youth to join their forces. The Klan undertook different events where they
exposed their customs and culture to make the people aware of the same (Schmitz, 2016). The
exposure of the practices helped in making the people aware of the practices and the reason for
bringing in the reformation. The presentation of the activities has helped the Klan in involving
the people and thereby build on their support for the activities that are planned by the right-
winged Klan members.

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On the other hand, Schmitz (2016) stated that gaining the attention of the youth towards
the activities that are planned by the Klan has helped in maintaining the levels of awareness
among the common people. The different aspects of the change in the systems of the
organization are based on the proper communication of the different objectives that guides the
actions of the Klan. Newton (2014) stated that the Klan focused on ingraining the interests of the
white supremacy and the maintenance of the chastity of the womanhood in the nation.
Understanding the different elements that guides the interests of the Klan has helped in making
the people aware of the centre of interest of the organization and the manner in which the people
can contribute to the success of the activities that might be undertaken by the same. The
acceptance of the different activities that are undertaken by the Klan has helped in involving the
youth and the supporters of the organization in their activities against the immigrants and the
black people. The understanding of the motif of the Klan to preserve the culture of the American
lifestyle has helped in involving the people and influencing them to act on their behalf. The
retention and action stage that is framed as per the model has helped the Klan in undertaking
sustainable measures for preserving the right winged extreme activities and thereby instill in the
people the emotion of preservation of the culture (Medlicott, 2013). The organization used
symbols that clearly demonstrated the culture of the Klan and the manner in which they function
as per the objectives of preserving the American culture.

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Figure 1: William McGuire's Model of Persuasion
(Source: Blee & McDowell, 2013)
The symbol of the Klan is commonly referred to as the "Blood Drop" Cross, which
signifies hate (Richard, 2015). It acts as a moral constrain towards the activities which justifies
the objectives of the Klan of purging out the elementary immigrants and the different sources of
impurities from their society who might act as a threat to the culture and the heritage of the
Americans (Jones, 2012). The symbol has played a major role in exposing the interests of the
Klan to purify the American society of the different threats that might affect the culture of the
region. On the other hand, the burning cross acts as an image of the hate that the Klan holds
towards love and thereby induce the spirit of vengeance among the followers (Flint, 2013). The
non- verbal communication technique that is utilized by the Klan through the creation of
different metaphorical imageries. It has helped the Klan in outspreading their intent of

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communicating their objective to the different groups of people. The utilization of the specific
emotions related to the objectives of the Klan to outnumber the inferior blacks and Jews has
helped in making the people of the region aware of the behavior and hateful attitude that the
Klan holds for the people. Synchronization of the objectives of the Klan to purge out the
impurities of the US societies with the emotions of people to preserve the culture and heritage of
America has helped in maximizing the involvement of the communities. Hohman (1916) stated
that the identification of the motifs of the Klan and their objective of protecting the whites and
maintaining the white supremacy is widely supported in the region. It has helped in the rapid
growth of the Klan as per the needs of the people to survive their own culture.
The enumeration of the Elaboration Likelihood Model has helped in understanding the
outcome of the persuasion that is undertaken by the Klan. The utilization of the emotional factors
relating to the preservation of the interests of the white settlers has helped in maintaining the
continuous improvements in the structure and the performance of the Klan (Strain, 2016). The
persuasion as per the ELM (Elaboration Likelihood Model) has helped in identifying the
capabilities of the people to understand the motif of the Klan members to protect the culture and
heritage of the white communities. The proper utilization of the symbols by the Klan has helped
in making the people aware of their objective of extreme racism and anti-Catholicism
philosophy. The symbols have helped in making the whites aware that the organization works for
bringing forth changes in the social systems. Simmons (1917) stated that the identification of the
needs of the people based on employability has affected the mentality of the people and the Klan
framed their objectives in a manner through which they might support the interests of the whites.
The quality of the ideas and the manner in which the community interprets them helps in
maintaining the objectives of the Klan to encourage the involvement of the different

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communities that are related to the activities of the organization. The dependence of the
functions of the Klan on the proper functioning of the systems has helped in maintaining the
different levels of changes in the systems of the operations. Blee (2008) stated that the
identification of the needs of the cult is based on the persuasion outcome, which has helped the
same in maintaining the varied amount of changes in the systems of the operations. The
identification of the needs of the organization to involve the white people in the different
sections of the activities has helped in the proper functioning of the organization as per the
objectives.
Figure 2: Elaboration Likelihood Model
(Source: Young, 2015)

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The Klan has evolved through the thorough support of the whites to maintain their
supremacy and employment. The white communities also supported the Klan due to their need of
retaining the culture of the region, which has helped in maintaining the congruity between the
different aspects of the heritage of the region. The persuasion that was utilized by the Klan for
demonstrating their ideals were based on the non- verbal forms of communication and semantics
that helped in making the people aware of the different activities that are planned by the
organization. Dixon and Wintz (2015) stated that the utilization of the burning cross and the
dripping blood on the cross symbolized their hate towards the infiltrators of the region. It clearly
stated that the Klan lacked the virtue of liberalization, which has caused massacres in the past
relating to the concepts of racism and the like. The identification of the culture of the Klan and
the manner in which it supports the interest of the whites was itself a persuasion for the
communities. It helped the organization in attaining the most of the support from the
communities where the Klan operates.
The organization is very successful because they have been adhering to the needs and
demands of the entire all the Americans (Alexander, 2015). Though this group was formed small
with the years they have become immensely successful. This is because they have been
contributing to all the needs that the Americans have during that time. The preached what the
Americans wanted to hear. The clan assured that, they would demolish everything that is anti-
American or anti-white in nature (Dixon & Wintz, 2015).
The Klan became successful because they helped in giving voice to several people who
were so long marginalized. They thought that they will never get a proper platform for speaking.
These mainly included the people belonging from the southern American parts. This is because
they gave the chance to these people for getting in value on their march or walks (Hammond,

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2015). They wanted to demolish anything that was foreign to the white skinned people or the
Americans. This clan assured them that they will not let any foreign harm coming within
America. They brutally killed anyone or anything that was anti-white or anti-American things
coming in. They also gave immense support to the non-Catholic Christians and those that were in
dead against of the Church. They helped in providing their support to those people who fell
submerged under the strict and the indiscriminate rules of the Catholic Church (Hammond,
2015). They condemned the Anti-white people and the black skinned people. They also denied
them the voting rights. They strengthened the position of the middle class and the lower class
Southern state Americans.
The nonverbal techniques that were used by this clan were burning the cross that was a
sign of disgrace towards Jesus and the Church. In other words, they thought that rather than
speaking verbally their usage of the nonverbal techniques would be good. This would show that
they are showing their disrespect towards the Catholic teachings and that they would destroy
anything that is related to the Church or to the catholic cult (Alexander, 2015). They also
undertook many walks or marches. They had hooded caps over their head. They also kept their
faces uncovered b because they did not think they have any reasons for keeping their faces
hidden. These were the means to show that they are not doing anything shameless or anything
wrong. They had full faith in them (Young, 2015).
They included men from the southern American states who are anti-catholic. Their
marches were evident in their persuasion. They wanted to persuade more and more people and
include them in their group. This would ensure that they are gaining more popularity and they
are able to carry on their activities properly. The other technique used by them was killing their
victims in a brutal way. In other words, they used to demolish anything and everything that was

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against their faith and belief. They knew that rather than speaking these nonverbal techniques
would be very effective as they will be able to prove their goals and motifs through their
activities.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above analysis it may be stated that the Klan planned its activities
based on the objective of retaining the culture and the heritage of the American lifestyle. The
proper functioning of the different systems of the Klan is dependent on the interests of the
whites. The motif of the Klan is dependent on the objective of maintaining the white supremacy,
which has affected the systems of the organization. The semantics that are used by the Klan has
helped in making the people aware of the objectives and thereby persuading the same to join the
forces to uplift and glorify the chastity of the whites. The marches and the exposure of the
burning cross has helped the Klan in maintaining the non- verbal communication, which has
helped the same in making the commoners aware of their existence and the type of functions
they undertake.

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References
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Dixon, T., & Wintz, T. (2015). The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan: An
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