Who’s Under That Sheet?

“At least I could see if I could do something about the racist terrorists in our backyard.”

                                                 William Stetson Kennedy

Hotep,

That powerful statement was made, from the context of a patriot, who was prohibited from serving his country during World War II.  His back injury may have left him unable to fight abroad, but Mr. William Stetson Kennedy stood firm on the front line of the fight against racism in America.  Ya heard?

The author and folklorist took the term “undercover” to new heights when he infiltrated the notorious Ku Klux Klan in the 1940’s.  He exposed their folklore – all of their secret handshakes, passwords and how silly they were, dressing up in white sheets.  I guess I don’t have to tell you how dangerous it was – back then – for a white man to take a stand against the powers that be.

Today, these racial terrorists no longer have to hide under bed linens to make their presence felt in our society, but the occasional public sheet bearing continues to exist.  In modern day, they acquire permits to exercise their constitutional right, to freely express themselves; similar to an Anti-Death Penalty March, or a Cure for Cancer Walk-a-thon.  Is it just me, or do you too see something wrong with this picture?

How is it possible for the Ku Klux Klan to still exist?  I mean, the many decades of hanging people from trees, the burning of crosses on people’s property and the burning of churches, should result in the demise of such a horrid institution…not true.  This was the degree of terror that caused Stetson Kennedy to take his stand.  The fact that the KKK is permitted to publicly adorn themselves with the white sheets that symbolize their reign of terror is disgraceful.  Not only to this country, but it’s a disgrace to humanity as a whole.  Na mean?

Now, there will be some who will say:  “Who is he to talk? He’s a death row prisoner transmitting through the blogosphere.”  This is so true.  The same laws that support a KKK rally also allows me to be all up in your cyberspace.  Real talk.  But, there’s a slight difference in what I do and the hatred they spew.  I’m trying to make a change for the better, as the embodiment of racial injustice.  The KKK and their many supporters believe that racial injustice is a platonic relationship between a black Mann and a white woman.  Feel me?

Our societal conditions are enveloped by the metaphorical white sheet that symbolizes white supremacy.  Crack cocaine continues to poison the minds of our youth and pollutes the streets they walk on.  Police brutality continues to run high in poverty – stricken communities and minorities overwhelmingly populate the death row housing units throughout the United States.  Word is bond!

As long as we continue to think of only ourselves, and close our eyes and ears to the reality surrounding us, we will be draping our existence with the same white sheet that represents hate, racial injustice and murder.  Ya heard?  So I ask you: “Who’s Under that Sheet?”

Rest in peace, Mr. Stetson Kennedy, 1916-2011.  Job well done.

Keep it 100,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2013 by Leroy Elwood Mann