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Ku Klux Klan regalia and insignia

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The costume of the Ku Klux Klan is perhaps the most distinctive feature of that organisation, and is recognised worldwide. It is sometimes known as the 'Glory Suit' by those who wear it, and many pejoratives by the Klan's numerous opponents.

Early KKK costume, 1871. (Three KKK prisoners members captured in Tishomingo County, Mississippi) Note that none actually wears white, nor pointed hoods.

Origins

The origins of the use of the costume are unclear, but it does seem certain that it was originally intended to be some kind of disguise. Although the organization has no relationship with Spain, the contemporary white gown with a cone hat follows Spanish Roman Catholic tradition, where such garments have been commonly used since time immemorial in festivities such as Corpus Christi.

It has been stated that the novels of Sir Walter Scott and others, influenced the organisation in various ways, for example in the use of the Fiery cross. They may have also influenced the KKK's costume,

There are a number of explanations given as to what it represents:

  • The white represents the white race, reflecting the racist ideals of the organisation.
  • The pointed hood also resembles that of a medieval executioner (although this was usually black, and that of grand inquisitor.)
  • The red cross on the white costume, and the horse resembles that of crusaders.
  • The white outfit may also be reflective of supposed Druid costume.

The KKK's own militaristic origins in the Civil War also played a part in developing, and turned the Klan into what was pretty much a Proto-Fascist organisation (true Fascism did not arise for several decades, and then in Europe).

Poster for The Birth of a Nation, which played on the 'Crusader' image

Development

The film The Birth of a Nation helped to fix many of the elements of KKK dress, and regalia. However, notably the film also shows the Klansmen wearing a variety of costumes, and there is far less 'standardisation'. For example, rather than the well known conical hats, the film shows a number of Klansmen in what are effectively 'flat' hoods, with a pole sticking up.

Earlier costumes were also not necessarily white, but various colours. White eventually became the standard colour, although higher ranks also use costumes which are not.

By the 1920s, the 2nd KKK more or less standardised the costume (after The Birth of a Nation)

Insignia

There is some argument about the KKK's logo. While some sources state that it was originally a saltire (X) reflecting the Confederate flag, and the St Andrew's Cross, others say that it was never slanted (+). If the Crusader influence is authentic, then the latter may be true.

The red background, and the red drop, almost definitely represents spilt blood, but there is some argument as to where this came from too. A few of the explanations include:

  • Blood spilt by the South in the American Civil War.
  • The blood of the white race.
  • Blood of some unnamed female victim of a supposed crime, a view supported by the film A Birth of a Nation.

Present day

The current organisation has splintered, but a number of successor organisations use what is effectively similar costume. The major factions currently include the Imperial Klans of America, the American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and the Knights of the White Camelia

The Ku Klux Klan costume has appeared in several modern day cultural references, some comical and others slighty more serious. Examples include:

  • The character Eric Cartman in the TV series South Park appears to be dressed as a Klansman for Halloween when his principal makes a ghost costume with a pointed hood. One of the show's black characters, Chef (voiced by Isaac Hayes), later screams and runs away when seeing Cartman, prompting the response "Wow, Chef's really scared of ghosts, huh?".
  • The British science fiction program The Tomorrow People displayed an alien known as "The Spidron" whose white robes and hood strongly resembled those of a Ku Klux Klansman.
  • The science fiction series Quantum Leap had the main character Sam Beckett encountering the KKK several times in his time travel journeys, and at least once becoming a klansman himself and wearing the KKK robes.
  • The mini-series Roots contains a scene where a Confederate veteran is shown inventing an early KKK robe by accidentally burning two holes in a cloth sack with a cigar.
  • The film The Klansman features a young O.J. Simpson donning KKK uniform to assassinate a KKK member.
  • The Austin Powers films regularly feature a Jerry Springer type show. In one instance, where the topic is "My father wants to take over the world", Dr. Evil sits beside a KKK robed guest.
  • An episode of The Simpsons (episode 2F01, "Itchy and Scratchy Land") briefly featured a minor character known as Ku Klux Klam.
  • Scary Movie 3 featured a rapper who put up a pointed KKK hood in a rap club where most of the people were black. They then threw him out of the window.
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