MLA 2024 Conference

The Testify: Americana Slavery to Today exhibit is expected to be on display at the 2024 MLA Conference in Rochester. The exhibit shows items collected by Diane and Alan Page which document the experiences of African Americans and the prejudice they were subjected to.
Since November, I have visited libraries in the SELCO region who have hosted the Testify Exhibit, sharing the story of intolerance shown by residents of Minnesota. Many people are unaware that the Ku Klux Klan was active throughout the state during the 1920s. In fact, their stated goal was to have a Klan organization in every county in Minnesota.
The purpose of my presentation is to inform individuals on the Klan’s presence in Minnesota, in both large cities and small towns. The strategies that Klan recruiters used are examined, as well as their manipulation of facts to support their movement.
The presentation covers the growth of the Klan, the tenets of the group, and the responses from communities. The eventual decline of the Klan is described and the role that anti-hate groups played in that decline. Finally, objects of Klan memorabilia are shown. Sources are suggested for those who would like to learn more.
Some of the best learning experiences come during the discussions at the end of the program. Those who attend Hooded History often express their appreciation for the new perspective they have gained regarding hate groups.