Selling Hate

Marketing the Ku Klux Klan

De: Dale W. Laackman

Narrado por: Jonathan Yen

The brilliant, amoral, and spectacularly bold Bessie Tyler and Edward Young Clarke - together, the Southern Publicity Association - met the fervent William Joseph Simmons (founder of the second KKK), saw an opportunity, and played on his many weaknesses. Tyler and Clarke took Simmons' dying and broken KKK, with its 2,000-3,000 associates in Georgia and Alabama, and in a few short years swelled its membership to nearly five million. Chapters were established in every state of the union, and the Klan began influencing American political and social life. Between one-third and one-half of the eligible men in the country belonged to the organization.

Even to modern sensibilities, the extent of Tyler and Clarke's scheme is shocking: the limitlessness of their audacity; the full-scale and ongoing con of Simmons; the size of the personal fortunes they earned, amassed, and stole in the process; and just how easily and expertly they exploited the particular fears and prejudices of every corner of America. You will recognize in this pair a very American sense of showmanship and an accepted, even celebrated, brash entrepreneurial hustle. And as their story winds down, you will recognize the tainted and ultimately ineffectual congressional hearings into the Klan's monumental growth.

©2020 The University of Georgia Press (P)2021 Tantor

Powerful Book

As an African American, I can say this book shined some light on the history and its implications on Americas race relations. It’s scary how so many people in high places and positions power of where apart of this organization. The book did not disappoint and was worth every cent I used to purchase it

Entertaining and Informative

I really enjoyed this book & the performance. It is a fascinating story, well told with interesting historical context provided.