Superman and the KKK

[HKTeeVee]

I'm pretty sure this story was a segment on This American Life or another NPR show (or maybe I'm misremembering and I actually just read it in some kinda journalism book, it was a while ago).

[JuanSherey]

awesome!

[CanadiaNecro1]

The KKK has no power? Not so. They control more than the average person realizes. They're just quieter about it now than they used to be, they don't blow up schools anymore for example. Remember the dog that doesn't bark is the one you have to watch out for.

[HKTeeVee]

@CanadiaNecro1 interesting, how do you know that?

[Elementa2006]

I actually listen to that radio episode and boy was it a treat. And this wasn't the first time Superman fought for equality back then there was another episode where he fought another hate monger group and then there was the Superman Meets the mole men movie starring George Reeves in the 50's which was a criticism of McCarthy's red scare era where the mole men were portrayed as sympathetic victims of blind hate led by a small town and Superman was defending the Mole Men.

[Elementa2006]

You can say he was like the first superhero to fight racism and intollerance.

[oMYPLAGUEo]

Triple K all the way! WHITE POWER!!

[stfwho]

@oMYPLAGUEo Um... The president is black. You hillbilly klansmen have no power.

[TheRealAkaRai]

@stfwho While the Klan certainly has no power, is Obama really anything to be proud of?

[stfwho]

@TheRealAkaRai No, most certainly not, but it is a great example that the KKK has no power anymore.

[effigytormented]

@TheRealAkaRai is any modern president? Kennedy was a lecher, Nixon was a paranoid liar, Reagan was a filthy sneak who funded terrorists (contras, Al-qaeda), Bush sr. hmm, I remember he promised no new taxes, then totally put new taxes in, can't recall anything he did, Clinton: another lecher, also accidentally bombed a civilian factory in Yugoslavia, plus covert wars in that area, W. Bush I don't even have to go into it

[effigytormented]

@effigytormented Obama is an effete, urbane man, more conservative than he led us to believe, not really a take action kind of guy, let's the right walk all over him when the right didn't give two craps about the left during the last administration. But really, everyone is all in the same pocket anyway. It's all just a ruse to divide us really.

[kingofkards91]

I live in St. Joseph, MO and unfortunately the klan used to be a very powerful force here there's even a photo taken in the 50s of our community center with over 200 members even in the 80s my father had to walk by the grand wizards house every day to get t oschool. His house, car, and even lawn mower was painted to resemble a kind of peach color of white skin. and even though my father is a white country boy even he was disgusted to walk by there. I guess we all owe superman a debt of gratitude

[pennsays]

Hi Penn fans. Penn Says videos have been discontinued, so you won't be seeing any new content on here. You can check out our Profile on our Channel Page for more info. We'll still be checking in, so hope to keep chatting with you all! Thanks!

[hollywoodjokerpicalo]

this sounds like super man was more in the KKK than against it.

I mean he has all the cradentials a farmer that see's him self as suprior

a man that has to intervine because the government wont sometimes.

he had no black friends like he does now. he wouldn't have a black man shine his shoes in the 40 he was that raciest.

[arachnophile01]

in an old online newspaper it says "head dragon" not "head wizard"

[LeighMet]

IT was truth justice and Tolerence. It became Truth Justice and The American way ethier after Pearl Harbor or the start of the COld War

[rabidchevy]

i can name the wizards. . lemee see. theres billy jo, jimbob. cletus. bob lee. jimmy jack. rufus. and david duke

[dubya68]

@rabidchevy Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) Satan rest his bigoted soul.

[terrence426]

Penn has the same laugh as Terry Gilliam

[pennsays]

@terrence426 Yeah, I can see that. /watch?v=CbGye2t2iPg

[rmcdaniel423]

I have a black friend who's very black, very southern, grandmother was a card-carrying member of the KKK since the 1940's. She applied as a joke, and they actually sent her a membership card, a couple patches and pins, and a bunch of literature. She had it all framed in a shadowbox display which my friend keeps on display to this day in total mockery of the idiot clan.

[DoctorFibonacci]

brilliant

[DoctorFibonacci]

thanks for sharing

[sakiimi]

If Penn were a wee bit younger I'd be running around trying to have his babies! :D

[QuartuvLarry]

I'm a wee bit younger...

[mrupert22]

By even talking about the KKK we empower them. I grew up in a small town in Indiana where the "KKK" marched on the courthouse. The "KKK", these days, is little more than a few alcoholic losers who are unemployed and live in their mom's mobile homes. And yet politicians love to empower the KKK by evening mentioning the group.

[princesstamika]

I heard their membership was up. In my town, I've seen increased activity.

[rshelpguilducoz]

not trying to hate on u mruoert22 but some place thats not ture.. like the other night some guy got dragged down the highway by the kkk.

[konothecook]

wrong, everyone should know about the KKK. We should know about all of the cynical groups in the country. When criminal organizations are made public, it's harder for them to be under the radar. When everyone knows the name of a bad organization we can stop them from doing a few things that they may otherwise get away with. Also, we will not make the mistake of underestimating them.

[guymella]

samsung tv commercial, over a sony video, on youtube, about a radio show, based on a comic book, that vilanized a racist group, whose racism was based on human trafficking for free farmhands, in an emerging turbulent nation, founded on freedom from persecution, by descenting religious groups over marriage rights...

humans thrive on conflict.

if we get bunk beds, i call top.

if we have to share a bed, i call bottom.

[DoctorFibonacci]

wat?

[guymella]

this Sony distributed video just started with an advertisement for a Samsung LED tv.

I love when mega corporations throw billions of dollars at each other just to get my attention

[davethecaveman]

Penn talks to us like some all knowing wise professor/prophet ,sent to us from the Gods so we can all sit around him in a circle and be marvelled by all of his pulp wisdom duffass bullshit...5 minutes with a parking lot attendant would be more enlightening.

[OOD84]

Don't listen to clat1, Penn.

[clat1]

stop smoking pot Penn

[mymorningvodka]

superman is mexican you faggots

[HarveyDroke]

Penn, I think something along this nature was mentioned in the book Freakanomics in the sections Real Estate and the KKK. By they way, saw you in Vegas and loved it. Have been a huge since I was a young boy. Now that I am persuing my doctorates in theology (basically my disertations and articles debunk it on a scientific level as opposed to being an apologist), I greatly appreciate your show Bull Shit. Take care and keep up the good work.

[abrahameldulce]

yo pienso que los kkk son unos cabrones que se vayan todos para el infierno a prender en fugo sus cruses de madera barata

[KluKluKlanMember]

Mexican mother fucker.

[TasteOfGreen]

He isn't mexican you fucking jew

[vermonofdeceit]

lol "the american way" Superman was invented by a canadian

[Limejello10512]

He was written by jerry seigal (American) and joe shuster (born in Canada but moved to America). So yeah he represents the American way....also regardless of who created him he still represents "traditional" American values. So again the American way.

[StapleGunMS]

You mean it was joint invented by and American and Canadian while they were BOTH living in America.

[vermonofdeceit]

oh well big deal...the place a person is from COMPLETLY determines how great they are....yup.

[x64600]

Facts about superman.

1. Action Comics, the comic Superman first appeared in was an American Company,

2. Cleveland born Jerome Siegel was the writer who came up with Superman.

3. Toronto born artist Joseph Shuster Put Siegel's ideas on paper, bringing superman to life.

4. Joe Shuster had been living in Cleveland, Ohio since he was 10 years old.

5. Both men lived in Ohio when they made Superman.

6. Ohio is in America.

How is that not The American way?

[Meta4ikle]

You are the man.

[8radiostar]

O.K.,i'm gonna call you on your own BULLSHIT,you are NOT anywhere near being ficticious,you are one of the few and far between's,my friend,that, "keep it real",and that is keeping it real and not just spouting off some popular,cool phrase of the generation.Of course when you said you were likened unto jimmy olsen,that was probably tounge in cheek,suggesting the mentality of the brainwashed masses and what they see through rose colored glasses with a cross on both lens.but just in case...

[Serpent257]

And the primary target of the first KKK was Republicans. Go figure.

A co-worker once asked me what I thought of the KKK, and I replied that I'm not too enthralled by Christian orgs. She didn't like that response too well, lol.

Serpent

[P0mt3]

Don't say 'Orgs', people will think you're a fucking Scientologist.

Funny story, though, lmao.

[kittyprydekissme]

I read about it in 'Freakonomics', too.

[dahwang12]

Lol, my history teacher in high school taught us that superman helped take down KKK. Thanks for sharing your insight on this. Best wishes.

[kingofkards91]

Haha! That's funny

[hs3fan]

Wow, I can't believe Superman helped destroy the Klan...I always thought it was generations of inbreeding that did it...

[codiwankenobi]

no. generations of inbreeding is what caused the clan, not what stopped it.

[lnthebackrow]

LOL!

[XiphiasGladiusMaximu]

lol ive already heard the story GREAT story though Freakonomics made a mention of this. It's just so damn funny

[rufusman2008]

Well it only makes sense. The American press helped to build up the Klan so it should only be fitting that they helped take it out.

[LeGioNoFZioN]

since the klan were Democrats, does that mean that Supes was a repub or would he have been a liberterian ?

[mechazaowa]

what are some of your favorite books?!?!

[debaser71]

ok I try again...Sam Harris makes this point when he talks about embarrassing religion in a truthdig interview...no link find it for yourself

[picklesnorf101]

If Superman can take on LEX LUTHOR he can easily take down some racist southern Christian douchebags unfortunately for the clan Superman's weakness isn't suspenders and incest. X_X

[00calvera]

Already knew!

[atypicalguy]

*****

profanity bump

*****

[RaiderCoffey]

I agree... what's up with that? If they don't like Penn why are they watching? What a waste of time. They are a waste of oxygen as well.

[RaiderCoffey]

Damn, 2 "Moron" blasts on the same video. Pick up a book and expand that vocab of yours. Actually... just go away. Go watch The Real World or American Idol. You are a typical ingrate that has nothing better to do than type "moron" over and over. It's kind of making you to look like the MORON. Beat it nerd.

[shawnmcghee1]

Do you have a source on this?

[AirknightTony]

hey this guy has done more than you and me, I think he has a right to blog if he wants to

[medicineman4ever]

More magic, less other stuff.

[shawnmcghee1]

Dude, there's a million magicians out there, and only a small handful of bullshit-detectors.

[RaiderCoffey]

Oh Shinny Thing!

[lexington210]

please stick to magic.

[bc9021010001]

"Klan" leadership is all FBI, same as "Taliban" and "Al Qaeda" leadership are CIA. Superman comics are no less fantastical than the daily stream of lies emanating from mainstream media. Obama has announced his plan to "pursue Bin Laden" in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Just like O.J. pursued the real killers. Eight more years of the perpetual war, just a different location. And a convenient "economic downturn" to lower expectations on the home front. Samo samo.

[RaiderCoffey]

Hey Lord. Have you read any of Penns books? Seen his ingenious show? You obviously don't know too much about him or you are just another close minded, sheepish, douch bag that finds gratification in blasting a person that does more in a day than you will do all year. You think he is a moron? You sat through his video and you don't like him. Moron

[lord69z]

Hey fanboy - i wasnt dissing Penn - it was aimed at the retarded replies.

I love P&T :P

[BrulesRules001]

kkk and the black panthers (church activities obama goes to) are the same thing

[heywoodjablohme]

Klan secret nipple piercings and plastic decoder rings. Stetson actually agreed to go deep undercover, learned the secret handshakes. Great stuff... The thing that's kept racism alive = Jim Crow gun control. It separates and keeps blacks unequal. Check out the site blackmanwithagunDOTcom

[shawnmcghee1]

You do know Jim Crow is dead, right? And how effective is gun control anyway?

[eqsheiky]

The video still they use for this one looks like Penn is saying, "Hey man, smell my fingers"

[appregios]

what the fuck you talking about address fed reserve real issues, killing my american talk get a clue dipfuck media idiot

[hawaiianharry]

Penn,

Aloha from Maui, Superman was able to take on the Klan because my Grandfather Harry Donenfeld (the publisher of DC) always gave the OK. Superman was allowed to fight the Klan, Communism and even Hitler without their even knowing it! We have always had great stories in the family and it's nice to see that some of them are finally getting out and justified. Kudos to your viewers for knowing so much about Superman!!!!

Peace & Aloha,

Harry Donenfeld

aka: hawaiianharry

[VideoGuyNC]

Very interesting! The Klan is not small enough until they are GONE. They have started harrassing people here where I live, and though it is in the south - my town is EXTREMELY culturally diverse. You wouldn't think that a town like this would be where they would want to try to spread their REDICULOUS message.

[dolinick231]

crazy stuff,huh?

[dolinick231]

Its not that crazy. Look up 'cargo cults'. I think you'll be very suprised. Let me know if you can't find anything.

[upabittoolate]

awesome

[tbussard]

This story was actually mentioned in the book "Freakonomics". It's a fascinating story, and well worth the read if you decide to borrow a copy. I'd give the cliffnotes, but go ahead! Visit your local library and check it out.

Go ahead and do it.

...I'm dead serious. Get your ass away from the computer and frequent your local library. And don't just get "Freakonomics". Get other books too. "Stranger in a Strange Land" is good.

...RIGHT NOW. Library cards are free, you know!

[templarart]

Thanks a lot Penn - that is quite a conversation starter! I won't be surprised if I see that as an opener on "The Pick-Up Artist".

[milliradian]

Superman is a complex, it makes each of us think we can do nothing to change things... unless of course WE were superman!... but you can do something, no one is superman.

[Dizzzaniel]

haha. Penn likes south park!! amazing.

so whats the book?

[Realizalize]

dis he say,

that this is a

part of the job

to say cool things to us?

"I am a lier" haha nope thats a lie!

bs

[mykmmc]

thats funny but if you wear tights and a cape your gona want a mask

[sevendueceoffsuit]

Maybe the Klan should have burned a kryptonite cross outside the Fortress of solitude, not to kill Superman, but to remind him who was boss.

[HammandClov]

lol. I never really understood that type of hypocrisy. Most klanmen are Southern Christians and believe in Christ and all that, yet they burn the cross? If an atheist did that, it'd be offensive but what is the significant of the cross burning?

[sevendueceoffsuit]

Yeah, I total agree. I'm not going to pretend that I understand the inner workings or the ideology of the Klan, but I never understood how someone could burn a cross Saturday night, then worship at the cross Sunday morning.

[shadybrain3424]

not any different than any other gang really. crips and bloods go rob stores, inflict fear, kill, and much more. Then on sunday they pretend that they have and influence of god in their life.

[Montismo]

The significance of cross burning is that it used to be a call to arms, a rallying symbol. A rider would light a (smaller) cross on fire and ride through the country side waving it around raising the alarm all Paul Revere style. People would see it and know something was imperiling their community and take up arms and get together to fight it. So it's not "desecrating the cross" if used in this capacity.

[HammandClov]

Thank you for the info! I've been wanting to know that for a long time.

[Teckniphobia]

Don't worry Penn, I'm sure you'll be a fictitious character someday.

[thwak]

At least superman doesn't kill anyone. That's more then you can say about some current religions.

[ragekage52]

i think is gread dragon

[monkeyjeebusx420]

Superman is awesome. god is fictitious just like Superman.

[AhmadJohnson0930]

God is real. The voting system is rigged. fluoride is put in your water to kill you. The Bible is 100% true. McCain is going to win. Jesus christ is coming again soon. Superman hurt the KKK. 9/11 was a government set up. the illuminati is real. The Titanic was sunk on purpose, by the captain. God bless you all.

[ajwins]

Ahmad you one crazy wrestler!

[masterohumans]

I can't tell if you're jokeing.

[DevonWhorton]

If that was satire, you're dead on, "ahmad".

[wheatwillrockyou]

all but the fluoride is for the most part accurate... except maybe the McCain one, the voting system might be rigged for Obama (the anti-christ) to win.

[MishaVargas]

As I wrote before, Ahmad... No. Not exactly. No. HELL no. Signs point to no. Lol. I know — cool, huh?! *Facepalm* Huh? Whatever. Praise Thor!

[EebstertheGreat]

Ahmad, the answer to your post is: "Superman hurt the KKK."

I win! I found the true statement!

[theQiwiMan]

The Mormons didn't try to keep anything secret that was exposed in that episode of South Park. The whole story of the 116 missing pages is right there in the Doctrine and Covenants for everyone to read.

Its so frustrating when people you respect (even if you don't agree with them) say things so ignorant, it really makes you lose some respect for them.

[batlrar]

No more ignorant than most people about the subject. I didn't know any of the stuff that was in the South Park episode before I said it there, let alone if it was a secret or not. If this were his main point, he might be considered ignorant for not doing research before talking about the subject, but it's something that he mentioned while thinking of a completely different subject.

[monkeyjeebusx420]

it was pretty much unknown to most people so it might as well have been a secret. there are mormon libraries regular people cant get into.

[masterohumans]

Nobody can know everything about everything. Unless he does this alot just let it slide.

[greenfireflytime]

interesting

[stereonut001]

I have heard about this a while back, very interesting stuff!

[jokertim777]

Backed up on books? I think an interesting video would be Penn's To Read List. If you agree, let him know. Maybe he'll oblige us.

[monkeyjeebusx420]

he should do meth like will ferrell on undeclared. he read 9 books a day.

[h8uall66]

There has actually been a lot of controversy over Kennedy's account of the events of his time with the KKK as detailed in his book "I Rode With the Ku Klux Klan". Apparently, a lot of the information gathered was provided by another man, not Stetson. Stetson had in fact not infiltrated the Klan personally, but rather through an informant. This man was never credited in his book. Of course, this does nothing at all to diminish the coolness of taking the KKK on with the Superman radio show.

[MassZombicide]

I'll check that out, Penn

[VoicesintheHead]

When is bullshit going to take on Scientology? Or are you scared about the lawsuits?

[keynan0000]

im pretty sure, they don't need to inform the rest of the world that scientology is bullshit.

[DCxxRay]

that would be interesting

[Mjhavok]

Quite Interesting.

[attackhamster]

haha good one penn :), more clips!

[fucksatanism]

I remember listening to old radio shows on sunday nights. I havn't thought about that for a long time.

[orclv]

i mist the 5 stars and hit the 3 fuck :D

[brouhajoe]

There's a great chapter on this story in the book "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt. They had a guy in the clan feeding them all of the clan secret lingo and passwords, and they'd put it into the show. The thought of these clan guys coming home and hearing their kids parrot the clan's "secret" language and code words is infinitely entertaining. I've always loved this story.

[jedi1josh]

"Freakonomics" is a great book.

[nomosushi]

thank god for Lois Lane and her super kooch. could you imagine what an asshole clark would have been if he didn't get laid thats taking one for the team

[AbbeyNormal]

There's this old essay by Larry Niven about how Superman and Lois Lane might possibly have sex-

rawbw. com/~svw/superman. html

It's disturbingly detailed, but very entertaining.

[T850CSM101a1676]

lolz

[kingbarneyoflondon]

Yeah the BBC show QI covered this subject a while ago

[Mjhavok]

I think that is where I found this out.

[SuperAtheist]

looks like the kkk needed a 4th k (kryptonite)

[riversonthemoon]

Sam Harris once mentioned this. It's a good meme to propagate. It shows what a powerful tool ridicule can be in marginalizing irrational positions.

Actually, I guess it's a rather blunt tool, as it can be used to marginalize pretty much any view. Hmmm....

[amulware]

It can only be used on those with secrets. And if they have secrets they usually deserve this kind of treatment.

[archivesbc]

I can just see someone writing down and putting in one of the Quotes webpages - Penn:"I'm like Jimmie Olsen - I'm THIS close to becoming a fictitious character"... :)

[Signofthedollar]

I remember the KKK coming to my high school to recuit new members. Of course there were lots of protesters there too. During all the screaming and shouting, I remember thinking how uncool the KKK seemed to be.

[toKs1c]

superman took on everybody, thats how balla he is