A few weeks ago on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was asked whether or not 
he would denounce the support he had gotten from well-known White supremacist and former KKK grand wizard David Duke, as well as other White supremacist groups. Here is a snippet of that exchange:
TAPPER: I want to ask you about the Anti-Defamation League, which this week called on you to publicly condemn unequivocally the racism of former KKK grand wizard David Duke, who recently said that voting against you at this point would be treason to your heritage. Will you unequivocally condemn David Duke and say that you don’t want his vote or that of other White supremacists in this election?
TRUMP: Well, just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke. OK? I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with White supremacy or White supremacists. So, I don’t know. I don’t know, did he endorse me or what’s going on, because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke….And so you’re asking me a question that I’m supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about.
TAPPER: OK. I mean, I’m just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here, but…
TRUMP: I don’t know any — honestly, I don’t know David Duke. I don’t believe I have ever met him. I’m pretty sure I didn’t meet him. And I just don’t know anything about him.
Here is a man who could legitimately become the next president of the United States. His comments should raise a serious red flag amongst all Americans – especially African Americans.
The Ku Klux Klan, often referred to as the KKK or the Klan, is a White-supremacist, domestic terrorist organization that has a history of committing various hate-crimes, and advocating for the concept of White supremacy through acts of violence and terrorism.
The KKK was birthed in the South in the 1860s, during the time of Reconstruction – a time where former African slaves had begun to experience tremendous gains socially, economically and politically. There were several White men who didn’t want to see Blacks make advances, so they created the KKK, where its members wore white costumes, that consisted of robes, masks, and cone-shaped hats. The white costumes were strategically designed with the intent of striking fear in the lives of those who saw them, and to primarily hide their identities. The reason they wanted to hide their identities is because many of the KKK members were members of the clergy, law enforcement, businessmen, judges, attorneys and other prominent citizens.
In 1874 and beyond, the KKK began terrorizing Black people and primarily focused their efforts on suppressing Blacks from voting or running for political office. The KKK had major political influence in several states, and they spread from the South into the Midwest and Northern states.
As time progressed, the KKK began to introduce cross burnings into their repertoire. They also began opposing any semblance of Civil Rights initiatives and got involved in the political process to make voting next to impossible for Blacks in the South.
As a secret vigilante group, the KKK purposely targeted freed slaves, abolitionists and any allies who sought to see Black people advance in this country. The KKK had a primary goal to restore White supremacy and ensure that White people controlled every facet of livelihood in this country by threats and violence – including murder if need be. They have to be considered one of, if not the most, dangerous and violent group of evil people to have ever existed.
Sadly, they are still around today, and one of the realest historical truths that is important for all of us to remember is the fact that African Americans have had to deal with the dark forces of the KKK for decades and no one should want to embrace a group that was created to intimidate and keep Black people in a constant state of fear and violent carnage.
Did I mention that the KKK still has a presence in the United States today?
Today, researchers estimate that there may be approximately 150 Klan chapters with upwards of 5,000 members nationwide.
And guess what? Donald Trump refused to disavow them and pretended to act like he didn’t even know who David Duke or the KKK was. Such a dangerous, dangerous red flag to me.
Why is this all important?
While many members of the KKK still proudly and publicly wear the traditional KKK robes and costumes, many of them do not. There are many law enforcement officials, businessmen and businesswomen, politicians, ministers, community leaders and others wearing an invisible KKK robe, and are hiding their true identity and true beliefs from us. However, behind closed doors, these secretive KKK members are plotting and planning their next moves, and are seeking to implement and execute those plans to negatively impact Black people.
That next major move could be ensuring that the KKK has representation and support from the next President of the United States of America – businessman and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Don’t say that it can’t happen, because the votes continue to be cast and the delegates are still being counted in his column. Donald Trump could very well be the 45th President and the KKK may have found its new hero and White-supremacist advocate.
Jeffrey L. Boney serves as Associate Editor and is an award-winning journalist for the Houston Forward Times newspaper. Jeffrey is a frequent contributor on the Nancy Grace Show and has a daily radio talk show called Real Talk with Jeffrey L. Boney. He is a Next Generation Project Fellow, dynamic, international speaker, experienced entrepreneur, business development strategist and Founder/CEO of the Texas Business Alliance. If you would like to request Jeffrey as a speaker, you can reach him at jboney1@forwardtimes.com