Documentary tomorrow on BBC 1 at 10pm- the KKK in the USA today

That's been known for a long time....what was interesting was that there were a lot of much less wealthy people who owned a few. Then there were the widows who had been left them in wills. Often the income from these few enslaved peoples were all their husbands bequeathed them.

Yes. Bit of a shock to think how the aristocracy got their wealth in the first place. Puts a new light on Britain's stately homes.

In a similar vein I watched the BBC2 programme last night about Slave ownership. Was unpleasant viewing and a timely reminder of our history. Yes, it all happened in the past but the effects are very much a part of our present.

I'm just wary of thinking 'it could never happen here' gj.
I am afraid it could.

I am sorry Jane- and I truly believe I was not twisitng your words. Of course racism could and does happen in the UK, and the BNP and EDL are representations of that- what could not happen is the wearing of hoods and masks and the burning of crosses- and the acceptation by a significant % of the population that it is legitimate- as happens in some parts of the deep south of the USA.

I noticed that they were using media to further their cause, and then got really upset when Anonymous did the same to them. They were quite happy to be filmed but did not want their names and addresses put on the internet.
The woman who complained about the photo of her children on the internet because they might be attacked did not see the irony in it.

We have to accept racism can cause a racist to do harm no matter British or American. Our police don't go around shooting as the Americans do but let us not forget it was British police officers who did not a thing for Stephen Lawrence as he lay bleeding to death, this caused Doreen much pain, they didn't even extend kind words to her son , passers by did

Granjura please don't accuse me of wishing to ignore the slavery and abominations if the KKK. You are twisting my words.
You said
"HildaW- could you imagine the EDL going around in those costumes, with arms and burning crosses? It could never happen here (thank goodness)."

All I was implying was that it could happen here, if we are not very vigilant and if we are complacent.

Yes Ana,,I do know murder is against the law but this isn't about breaking laws it's about racism

You can't legislate against hate per se. Murder is a criminal offence.

I do Maggiemaybe, they may not take a life but they can make life hell

Can't say I'm keen on racists myself. But I don't think they're quite as hateful as people who lynch their neighbours.

Take issue with some racists are better people than other racists ? I doubt it, hate is hate

I would guess the families of the 3,446 people lynched by the KKK over 86 years (Tuskegee University's Records and Research Division) would take issue with that.

But the KKK and the EDL are the same, they are racists , the EDL hasn't carried the killings as the KKK but this doesn't make them better people

Totally aware of this jane- of course. But if you look at the history of the KKK, and the awful deeds they perpetrated, like hangings, cutting tongues (read Mudbound), dragging alive behind a truck for miles till dead, etc- which was accepted in the South, is unparralleled in the UK, truly. If you watched the fil last night, the last case of a man dragged behing a truck for miles till dead of incredible suffering, was in 98- so not long ago. And many didn't think it was wrong at all in the deep South- in the UK there would have been a massive outcry.

I'm sorry, but you really can't compare the KKK to the EDL, as I was wrong to do so. Look at the history- there is no history of the EDL committing massive numbers of the most abject and cruel crimes as the KKK in the USA.

We have visited the USA many times, and have many friends there- so I am no hater of the USA. But closing your eyes to the history of the KKK is not helpful here. One of our USA friend is a retired Professor of politics at a very famous USA uni- and we have oftenb discussed the issue- as he lived with his family in Leicester- they were totally amazed by the cultural mix and how well it works- and said it just could not happen in the USA, especially in the South (they live on the North/South divide). Sad that you constantly try to distort what I am saying, and wish to ignore the terrible past of the South USA, slavery and the KKK, which still survive to date for so many.

There is a documentary on Tony Morrison tonight on BBC1, at 10pm I believe - it will be interesting to say what she says.

Good post Hilda
GJ You somehow make it sound as though the white supremacists in the UK are less vicious and hateful than the KKK because they don't wear silly costumes and burn crosses.
They are organised, and they do hateful things, just like the KKK.
A young British Asian dentist in North Wales was almost killed, and his hand almost severed, by a British white supremacist.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/white-supremacist-screamed-this-lee-5929392
We have no justification to point the finger at the USA.

HildaW- could you imagine the EDL going around in those costumes, with arms and burning crosses? It could never happen here (thank goodness).

jingl I agree- and exactly what my Muslim relatives say about ISIS- that their actions have NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING to do with Islam.

The US is so big and each state has its own 'personality'. We've stayed in the South - Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama and, although we had wonderful holidays, you cannot ignore the differences of opinion. There is almost self-imposed segregation in cities. There is also a lot of anti 'North' feeling that's represented by that flag. If you gingerly start a conversation, those who express such views couch it in terms of anti- government (particularly Obama - who although black is viewed in those southern states as a later day Kennedy). The trouble is that if one is anti North, historically that also means you were pro-slavery and hence against racial integration.

I watched the programme for 10 minutes and then felt I'd had enough. The trouble is that its a lot of socially insecure people who feel hard done by and need a scape goat....they chose the African American. In the UK we would probably see they funny side of it.....sort of BNP in silly costumes but in the US with their gun culture its a whole different matter.

I watched it late last night on +1. I agree with jingl. A lot of bigoted loud mouths keeping up a tradition which is full of hate.

The kind of people who like to portray themselves as feasome and evil but each and every one of them would probably run a mile if you shout, 'BOO!'

No way is that Christianity, of any kind. That is hate, pure and simple.

Mudbound is about post war KKK- and be warned, it is quite shocking. These extremist racist attitudes still remain to this day for too many- and in the name of 'Christianity' (the Christianity of the black churches being totally dismissed).

I'm going to watch it on 4+1 in ten minutes.

are you watching? 1998- worse than ISIS style murdering or black Christian youth in the name of 'white' Christianity- dragged alive for 3 miles on road- as int he 'old' KKK tradition.

Christianity does have its extremes too, tragically.