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An Unexamined Life – GUEST: Scott Lynch
Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe.
Over 25 years ago, Scott Lynch, along with other local “punks”, participated in a series of grassroots anti-racism efforts in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He sits down in studio with his friends, Jake and Chris, and shared why he joined the Ku Klux Klan and what it meant to him as a place of belonging and identity. He also discussed how truly leaving White power groups is more complicated than cancelling monthly membership dues.
For more information:
https://www.rw.institute/
Follow Disorienting Dilemma on Twitter:
@podcastdilemma
Resources/materials:
Bronwen & Yaffa (Moving Towards Tolerance): “This documentary presents two young women from Halifax who are organizing rock concerts to raise money for the group Eastcoast Against Racism. Bronwen and Yaffa believe that the universal language of music will help unite the community. At the same time, they struggle to renew their friendship with Scott, a former Ku Klux Klan member. This moving film is set against a vibrant soundtrack of punk and rap music.”
PODCAST RECOMMENDATION - Africville Forever: “In 1969, the last home in the Black community of Africville was flattened. The bulldozer was hired by a city that had schemed to claim this valuable land for generations. In this 5 part series, we tell the story of this unique and beautiful place. Born out of adversity, it thrived as a safe haven for people of African descent in Canada. If you care about racism, displaced peoples and social justice, then you need to know the story of Africville Forever. Hosted by Eddy Carvery III & Alfred Burgesson.
KKK in Kanada?: “The Canadian expansion of the KKK was buoyed by inter-war anti-immigrant sentiment, the usual white nationalism that had deep roots since Confederation and concerns over vice—alcohol, drugs and non-heterosexual monogamous sex that was often prejudicially associated with ethnic minorities. In the United States, similar concerns were in play, but the biggest reason for the revival of the anachronistic post-Civil War-era “Clansman” group at the start of the 20th century was the concern in the south that black Americans were making real political and economic gains. It was a backlash.”
Getting out can be lonely: “Having friends, community, and purpose, make it possible for people to sustain the new life they’ve created, but it can be extremely difficult. We believe people are more likely to disengage from hate groups if they have a different community waiting for them so part of our work is to convince the public that these people should not be given up on, that they can take responsibility for their past and change.”
Hate in Canada: A Brief History: “These are the remnants of older groups that operated predominantly in the 20th Century. This includes the KKK and the Creativity movement, which are considered to be still present, but considerably weakened. The ideas (particularly RAHOWA) and symbols promoted by these groups continue to carry significance in the hate movements. Additionally, there are signs that the Klan and people sympathetic to its aims exist in Canada today; in 2017, flyers claiming to be from the organization were distributed in British Columbia. There have also been some reports of limited online activities in the late 2010s”.
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By PodstarterDid this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe.
Over 25 years ago, Scott Lynch, along with other local “punks”, participated in a series of grassroots anti-racism efforts in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He sits down in studio with his friends, Jake and Chris, and shared why he joined the Ku Klux Klan and what it meant to him as a place of belonging and identity. He also discussed how truly leaving White power groups is more complicated than cancelling monthly membership dues.
For more information:
https://www.rw.institute/
Follow Disorienting Dilemma on Twitter:
@podcastdilemma
Resources/materials:
Bronwen & Yaffa (Moving Towards Tolerance): “This documentary presents two young women from Halifax who are organizing rock concerts to raise money for the group Eastcoast Against Racism. Bronwen and Yaffa believe that the universal language of music will help unite the community. At the same time, they struggle to renew their friendship with Scott, a former Ku Klux Klan member. This moving film is set against a vibrant soundtrack of punk and rap music.”
PODCAST RECOMMENDATION - Africville Forever: “In 1969, the last home in the Black community of Africville was flattened. The bulldozer was hired by a city that had schemed to claim this valuable land for generations. In this 5 part series, we tell the story of this unique and beautiful place. Born out of adversity, it thrived as a safe haven for people of African descent in Canada. If you care about racism, displaced peoples and social justice, then you need to know the story of Africville Forever. Hosted by Eddy Carvery III & Alfred Burgesson.
KKK in Kanada?: “The Canadian expansion of the KKK was buoyed by inter-war anti-immigrant sentiment, the usual white nationalism that had deep roots since Confederation and concerns over vice—alcohol, drugs and non-heterosexual monogamous sex that was often prejudicially associated with ethnic minorities. In the United States, similar concerns were in play, but the biggest reason for the revival of the anachronistic post-Civil War-era “Clansman” group at the start of the 20th century was the concern in the south that black Americans were making real political and economic gains. It was a backlash.”
Getting out can be lonely: “Having friends, community, and purpose, make it possible for people to sustain the new life they’ve created, but it can be extremely difficult. We believe people are more likely to disengage from hate groups if they have a different community waiting for them so part of our work is to convince the public that these people should not be given up on, that they can take responsibility for their past and change.”
Hate in Canada: A Brief History: “These are the remnants of older groups that operated predominantly in the 20th Century. This includes the KKK and the Creativity movement, which are considered to be still present, but considerably weakened. The ideas (particularly RAHOWA) and symbols promoted by these groups continue to carry significance in the hate movements. Additionally, there are signs that the Klan and people sympathetic to its aims exist in Canada today; in 2017, flyers claiming to be from the organization were distributed in British Columbia. There have also been some reports of limited online activities in the late 2010s”.