Mark Juddery of Mental Floss brings us a fascinating story from American history. After World War II, the Ku Klux Klan was thriving. Writer Stetson Kennedy infiltrated the organization in the hopes of writing an exposé about its activities and beliefs. Unable to find a outlet willing to publish the story, Stetson approached the producers of the Superman radio show:In a 16-episode series titled “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” the writers pitted the Man of Steel against the men in white hoods. As the storyline progressed, the shows exposed many of the KKK’s most guarded secrets. By revealing everything from code words to rituals, the program completely stripped the Klan of its mystique. Within two weeks of the broadcast, KKK recruitment was down to zero. And by 1948, people were showing up to Klan rallies just to mock them.
via io9
2 comments:
Last I heard, Stetson Kennedy was still alive and living in Florida.
If you're interested in the history of the southern US, 1865-1945 or thereabouts, find a copy of his "Southern Exposure."
Superman can do it all.
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