Burning Cross

Posted by ESC on November 14, 2001

In Reply to: Burning Cross - Ref posted by Jim on November 13, 2001

: : : A burning cross is a popular icon used by the Klu Klux Klan and random, freelancing bigots for both ceremony and as a warning to potential victims. I read that Scottish clans once used a burning cross to summon clan members to battle. Is there any connection between the ancient and contempory use of a burning cross as an icon of or summons to action?

: : Such a connection has been claimed: apparently the man who introduced cross-burning into the KKK cited the Scottish custom as a precedent. See link below for more.

: ::Thanks for the Supreme Court tip. Also found a website called "The Straight Dope" www.StraightDope.com/ classics/a4_196.html that explains how a burning cross was adopted from the Scottish custom by the Ku Klux Klan and used as "brand identification".

All I came up with was some information on "special effects" done by the KKK in the early years to scare black people. And a reference to keg burning by some people in Scotland. Nothing on cross burning.