When Superman Fought The KKK- and won!

During WW 2 Superman had fought Germans & Japanese, the enemy was clear. Now at war's end a new enemy was needed. Enter the KKK!

Photo: Theatrical Display For The Max Fleischer ‘Superman’ Cartoons!

During World War 2 Superman had done his part in the war effort in movie matinee serials, comic books, a newspaper strip, cartoons, a radio show here are some examples:

Superman Fights World War 2 | Japoteurs, Jungle Drums, Eleventh Hour:

The Klan had also done its part during World War 2. It disbanded during the duration of the war. This was done so klansmen could pass any loyalty oath and join the military. In those days if you compared the Klan to National Socialists or Hitler you would have had to fight! They saw Hitler and his movement as Catholic!

To the Klan, Hitler was the Pope’s front man. When the war ended the Klan came back to life and it burst with dues paying members. One man went on a journey to infiltrate the revived Klan across the country and learn its secrets. His name was Stetson Kennedy. His path was about to cross with Superman!

Stetson thought he had the story of the year. No publisher would touch it, partly because it revealed all the secrets of the group and partly how the klan made and used money. Nobody wanted to get in a lawsuit with the Klan especially if the judge was klan! That was when Stetson had a stroke of genius. He went to the Superman radio show and offered them his story and information if they would make the Klan Superman’s foe. It was agreed to change the name of the group for the show, but that all the secret rituals and money trail information would remain intact.

The radio show was already a hit show, but when word spread it was actually about the Klan and secrets were being exposed interest went through the ratings roof. When the newspapers caught on Stetson would appear in his Klan robe to talk about his infiltration of the group.

The IRS revoked the tax free status the klan had and went looking for back taxes. Klan rituals had been held up to ridicule. There were millions of Klan households across America that children who loved Superman heard that the group their parents were in, wanted Superman dead.

Membership collapsed and the Klan would never be that large or powerful again. A modern mythical being met a very real hate group, and the hate group lost. Enjoy the show:

Behind the paywall: Superman | The Amazing Story of Superman

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