The Ku Klux Klan as Judges of the South

By Jae Yong Shim

Introduction

[1] Alan Parker’s Mississippi Burning is based on a real story of the 1964 murder of three civil rights workers in the state of Mississippi. Although the film is based on a true story, it contains a more fictional side. Main characters are created, and the story after the murder -- the process of investigation -- is mostly fictional. Nevertheless, what Parker portrays thoroughly is the racial discrimination of the 1960s. Violence by the Ku Klux Klan continuously appears throughout the movie, and, in addition, a number of scenes directly show other white people either disinterested in or accepting the violence. Therefore, the atmosphere of the reel Jessup County that was modeled after the real Neshoba County completely authorizes violence against African Americans, and one of scenes that stands out as representing this brutal ambience is "Fiery Lynching" (1:20:56).

Brief Summary & Background

[2] Leading up to the scene, there is a bombing by Ku Klux Klan of an African American home. Investigating the bombing, the FBI persuades a black boy, the only witness to the bombing, to talk and procures his testimony. As a consequence, Ku Klux Klan members are tried and sentenced five years of imprisonment, yet the sentence is suspended. The rioting continues, and members of the KKK attack Vertis Williams, pastor of an African American church. As Vertis Williams attempts to stand up to them, his family successfully runs away and survives. Nevertheless, the house is burnt down, and Vertis Williams is hung.

Analysis

[3] There is not much dialogue in the scene. In fact, members of Ku Klux Klan do not talk at all --Vertis Williams and his son Aaron talk to have their family evacuated. Nonetheless, the act of hanging Vertis has significance. Given that not only Mississippi Burning but also Rosewood illustrate images of hanging, it can be deduced that hanging was widely carried out by KKK in the past. Hanging is not a usual method of murder but, rather, an old style of executing criminals. In other words, what the KKK does is not a murder but, in a sense, an execution. This indicates that they consider themselves as protectors of Anglo-Saxon Christians while they consider others with different ethnicity or religious views as invaders who disrupt their way of life. Hence, in their view, they are police, and they are judges. Hanging Vertis is especially critical since, as a pastor, he is a symbolic leader of the black community, and he is the only African American who stands up against KKK in the film unlike other black people. Indeed, for the KKK, hanging Vertis is punishing an insurgent dangerous to its social order.

[4] Moreover, the "Fiery Lynching" scene is crucial since it presents the Ku Klux Klan as the law in the community. The film demonstrates over and over again that African Americans are afraid of retaliation by the KKK if they talk to the FBI. They know the real law would not protect them but that the law of the KKK would punish them. In another scene, Aaron Williams says, "The reason people don't want to talk to you is because they're afraid it'll get back to the law." Agent Ward says that "we are the law,” and Aaron replies, "Not around here, you ain't." Aaron foreshadows the "Fiery Lynching" scene. Agent Ward brings KKK members to court and has them tried under the law. However, the law does not punish them but suspends their five-year sentences. And after they are released, they lynch the pastor. It is a symbolic retaliation against the African Americans who put them on trial. Therefore, the scene signifies that KKK's law is above the real law.

[5] Lastly, the “Fiery Lynching” scene represents the collective violence of the community and the KKK members. Fire that represents madness is hard to be extinguished as it gets bigger and bigger. Likewise, the Ku Klux Klan is the biggest force in the community that includes local businessmen and sheriffs, and the rest of the community silently accepts their violence without any repulsion. In other words, the racist madness is not condemned since everybody is so much a part of it that it is regarded as natural. This leads to difficulties of FBI investigation by creating alibis, manipulating evidence, and threatening African Americans to prevent cooperation with FBI. Thus, the fiery image that burns down the entire house and farm represents the entire community being involved in the murders.

Conclusion

[6] In conclusion, the "Fiery Lynching" scene has significance in Mississippi Burning. Director Alan Parker recreates most parts of the story; however, he faithfully portrays the real history in terms of the KKK's arrogance in considering themselves as judges and protectors of the Anglo-Saxon Christian community. The arrogant belief that the Jessup County's law is above the real law is a result of the social consensus of accepting the violence. Consequently, the scene, despite only lasting a few minutes, reflects the real South of the 1960s in which social phenomenon made the violence tolerable.