The Klan

Earlier this year, as part of a class titled "Restorative Justice and Public Education in Mississippi," I made a short documentary about the controversy surrounding the chant "The South will rise again." Since about 2003 this chant was yelled during football games at the University of Mississippi. In the fall of 2009 the chancellor, Dr. Dan Jones, directed the university band to no longer play the song "From Dixie with Love," a song that served as the trigger for the chant. This controversy culminated in a rally, on-campus, of the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Here is the film:

The South Will Rise Again from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

In the making of that film I interviewed lots of people, some of whom didn't make the final cut. Here are excerpts and various bits of footage:

The first few clips are of an interview with investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell:

Intro-Jerry Mitchell from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

The White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of Mississippi-Jerry Mitchell from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Today's Klan-Jerry Mitchell from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Young People Joining the Klan-Jerry Mitchell from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Poor, Whites in Mississippi-Jerry Mitchell from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Footage from the Klan demonstration:

Ku Klux Klan Demonstration from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Clips of Melissa Cole, one of the students featured in the film:

The South Will Rise Again-Melissa Cole from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

New Generation-Melissa Cole from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Melissa's Email-The South Will Rise Again from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Alma Mater-Melissa Cole from Ben Guest on Vimeo.

Outtakes-Melissa Cole from Ben Guest on Vimeo.