Comments on: Meet Ms. Ruth, Aryan Outfitter

Meet Ms. Ruth, Aryan Outfitter

liketitanic — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:15:06 -0800

"Ms. Ruth" is a seamstress who makes robes and garments for members of the Ku Klux Klan. Photojournalist Anthony Karen documents her work in this photo essay with audio of interviews.

By: perhapses

perhapses — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:19:43 -0800

The Chappelle in me expected her to be black.

By: mosk

mosk — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:23:34 -0800

The banality of evil, distilled in 15 photos. I haven't had a chance to listen to the audio yet, but the last photo is particularly haunting.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:27:06 -0800

The Nazis had awesome tailors, too.

By: jabberjaw

jabberjaw — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:28:43 -0800

This makes me entirely very, very sad.

By: timsneezed

timsneezed — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:33:59 -0800

Coming from five generations of Ku Klux Klan members, 58-year-old "Ms. Ruth" This is kind of sad. It's almost as if she had no chance to not be a bigot given her upbringing.

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:36:42 -0800

mosk: "The banality of evil, distilled in 15 photos. I haven't had a chance to listen to the audio yet, but the last photo is particularly haunting." That picture was heartbreaking. All of the pictures were sad, really. And at the risk of sounding mean, I wish the photographer had a better eye for framing. So many of those shots could have been really amazing.

By: Forktine

Forktine — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:38:08 -0800

I am surprised at how cheap the red robe is; I would have expected her to be able to charge more.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:38:17 -0800

You know I guess it never really occurred to me where those robes come from. I guess I probably assumed there was like a big Racists 'R' Us store at an outlet mall somewhere and you just bought them off the big circular rack and if you were a little kid you'd duck in through the robes and make the open inner ring of the rack into a temporary fort and spy on your sister and stuff but then your parents would be all 'EUGENE COME OUT OF THERE, WE'RE GOING' and then you'd watch as the old lady at the register fumbled around with the robe for what seemed like forever trying to find the little tag to scan and you started getting antsy because your parents said you'd stop at Baskin Robbins on the way home.

By: poe

poe — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:43:36 -0800

I'm just going to assume she is doing this: Mitchell and Webb. That way I don't have to be sad.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:44:10 -0800

I'm amused she is a Ms.

By: Halloween Jack

Halloween Jack — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:54:26 -0800

the last photo is particularly haunting. Yeah. I was looking through the photos and thinking about how relatively frail she looks and she's got the disabled daughter to take care of and so forth, and then there's that freckled kid who looks so proud of her new robe. Yet another generation, I guess.

By: spicynuts

spicynuts — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:02:49 -0800

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the Klan

By: raztaj

raztaj — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:11:12 -0800

Who's the politician (I think) above her daughter's bed in this photo?

By: subbes

subbes — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:22:53 -0800

I'm looking at the picture of the Exalted Cyclops' robe, and there seems to be a porblem - there are two eyeholes.

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:31:48 -0800

From the audio for this pic: "The people that I sew for, when they call me, they're so nice...they just call and ask me how my daughter's doin'...when she has to have surgery and they know it, they put through their whole group for prayers for her. They're good people, I don't care what people say about 'em...they're very caring people, they're very Christian people." Oh, Ms. Ruth. You poor, deluded soul.

By: howfar

howfar — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:33:17 -0800

"Exalted Cyclops". So they're actually calling themselves dicks?

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:45:38 -0800

I'm amused she is a Ms. In much of the south, "Mrs." only has one syllable, and "Miss" is pronounced with more of a Z sound than a sibilant S sound. I'm willing to bet that she's not a Ms. at all, but that it sounded that way to a reporter who's not from these parts.

By: Listener

Listener — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:52:45 -0800

That makes sense, mudpuppie. I think I've seen that written "Miz'" or something. Holy crap - I am amazed these things are being made and people are still in the KKK! And she blesses the thing by hugging it? Ludicrous upon ludicrous.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:54:37 -0800

One of the creepiest things I've ever seen was a Klan hood and robe for sale at a flea market in East Texas. It was stuffed into a gunny sack and somewhat hidden under the table, but still visible and obviously for sale. My blood ran cold when my eyes landed on it.

By: Listener

Listener — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:57:38 -0800

poe, thanks for that video link. Hadn't heard of Mitchell and Webb, but that put the smile back on my face.

By: tommasz

tommasz — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:03:45 -0800

To paraphrase Bono: The God I believe in doesn't "bless" KKK robes.

By: SMPA

SMPA — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:10:10 -0800

And here I was, looking forward to a day free from the banality of evil, after yesterday. Why I thought I could pull that off in this reality, I don't actually know. I am also vaguely appalled, in an "arson, murder, and jaywalking" kind of way, at how little she's getting for the amount of work she does. They're not just racist thugs, they're also cheapskates. And I can't help but question the wisdom of the "my husband goes to the flea market and sells racist paraphernalia" plan, in terms of economic strategy. Moreover, having been around a lot of nice handmade stuff while in Irish step dance, I'm also not impressed with the quality of her workmanship. And don't get me started on how tacky the robes are (before even analyzing the ugliness they're meant to provoke in the wearer and audience.) Racist thugs and cheapskates with a poor sense of fashion. They offend the entire universe before getting out of bed in the morning.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:29:17 -0800

....

By: evidenceofabsence

evidenceofabsence — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:38:29 -0800

but that it sounded that way to a reporter who's not from these parts Contemporary news outlets consider "Ms." to be the default honorific, whatever parts they're from.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:50:08 -0800

That's true, but I don't know of any contemporary news outlets that honorifically pair "Ms." with the subject's first name.

By: SMPA

SMPA — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:52:24 -0800

That is a totally Southern thing. Many of my great-aunts in Kentucky insist on being Ms. FirstName.

By: MegoSteve

MegoSteve — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:54:59 -0800

I thought I remembered seeing some of these before, but the link from this previous Metafilter post is dead.

By: Apocryphon

Apocryphon — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:01:49 -0800

Yet another generation, I guess. Considering that Lynx and Lamb, the preteen pop duo of Prussian Blue, are now pot-smoking liberals, I wouldn't be too worried.

By: mccarty.tim

mccarty.tim — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:29:32 -0800

Yay, silver lining re: Prussian Blue! I saw those girls in the Louis Theroux meets the Nazis documentary, and while they didn't seem that well indoctrinated (ie they didn't seem that sincere about their racism, nor did they remember the stories that well that their mom taught them so they could learn to be racist; it kind of reminded me of young kids who totally don't get the point of the bible), I got the feeling they'd slowly adopt their mom's beliefs.

By: mccarty.tim

mccarty.tim — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:31:14 -0800

Oh, but on review, they still believe some crazy things, ie they're skeptical of the holocaust... I guess they're liberal from the Nazi worldview...

By: mccarty.tim

mccarty.tim — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:41:27 -0800

[ancient internet joke]: Does she make the robes for this group, too?

By: jonmc

jonmc — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:49:01 -0800

I remember reading about a seamstress who sews patches for outlaw biker clubs. When asked about it, she said "Their money is as good as anyone else's." FWIW.

By: 445supermag

445supermag — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:56:42 -0800

About 20 years ago, my (at the time), employer found some industrial equipment for sale up in Cecil county, Maryland. Though it's right up against the mason-dixon line, it's long been a hot bed of klan activity. While we were loading the truck, we mentioned these rumors to the seller, but he dismissed them, saying that that stuff was all in the past. But on the way home, about 20 miles down the road, there were a couple klansmen in full robes and hoods, handing out flyers at a crossroads. Very excited to see one of the mythical creatures, my boss said, "Roll down your window and grab one one of the those flyers". It was a single sheet of copypaper with the caption "Keep on Ku Kluxin' " and had the iconic R. Crumb figure dressed in a robe and hood.

By: cjorgensen

cjorgensen — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:59:11 -0800

I went to a museum once that had Klan outfits. One was for an infant.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:23:00 -0800

"hate couture" = good one. I am surprised at how cheap the red robe is; I would have expected her to be able to charge more. She knows what her market can bear. Those ignorant crackers ain't exactly rolling in dough. I went to a museum once that had Klan outfits. One was for an infant. Baby's comfort comes first!

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:34:59 -0800

Wasn't it Freakonomics that discussed how the key to the KKK's domination was through control of information? I think ritual - intrinsic elements of theater and religion - is a powerful method of controlling minds and I love articles like this that document the banality of ritualistic evil, because out of context, the symbols of hate and fear that are key to creating fear just look ridiculous.

By: obiwanwasabi

obiwanwasabi — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:10:54 -0800

*gasp* Long pointy hat, golden Aryan locks, penchant for swords and horses... Link, how could you?

By: 1f2frfbf

1f2frfbf — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:58:03 -0800

The Nazis had awesome tailors, too. A Mr. Hugo Boss, if I remember my history correctly. I'd like to take this moment to shout-out to another, different Ms. Ruthie who lives in the southeast and makes Roller Derby uniforms instead, because ending 4/20 on a downer is such a buzzkill.

By: donajo

donajo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:00:05 -0800

I was talking to a co-worker recently about our Klan ancestors (we are both from the South and have squicky feelings about this). She, a former archivist for the state of Mississippi, had inherited her grandfather's robe and donated it to the state archives. She has a theory that the robes (from then, at least), were manufactured at the same place as old choir robes, based on the label inside the one she had.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:16:46 -0800

She has a theory that the robes (from then, at least), were manufactured at the same place as old choir robes, based on the label inside the one she had. Sunday-go-to-meetin' robes. Saturday-night-go-to-lynchin' robes.

By: Bunny Ultramod

Bunny Ultramod — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:31:24 -0800

There's a lot of good Klan stories. There's Wade Watts, who the Klan tried and failed to terrorize. Famously, they accosted him eating chicken and told him whatever he did to the chicken, they would do to him, so he kissed the chicken. There's Stetson Kennedy, who infiltrated the Klan, and then turned the their codes and ritual details over to the writers of Superman radio show. When they were broadcast, it effectively painted the Klan as villains, and made a mockery of their secrecy. But my favorite is the story of Larry Trapp, a former KKK grand dragon who engaged in a campaign of terror against a Lincoln, Nebraska canton named Michael Weisser. Trapp was very sick, and tended to go through nurses at an alarming (and unsurprising) rate. One winter, an enormous storm approached, and knowing that Trapp was liable to be alone during it, Weisser called him and asked if he needed anything. Trapp was unexpectedly moved by this, and the two began a troubled but increasingly friendly relationship. When Trapp's illness grew worse, Weisser took him in and his family nursed him. By the time Trapp died, he had converted to Judaism, and is now buried in a Jewish cemetery. Hate becomes a habit. It's a habit that can be broken.

By: Bunny Ultramod

Bunny Ultramod — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:32:14 -0800

cantor. canton is a delicious style of chicken.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:38:19 -0800

canton is a delicious style of chicken. Or a member state of the federal state of Switzerland.

By: MuffinMan

MuffinMan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:32:57 -0800

This is why I don't wear pyjamas.

By: sneebler

sneebler — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:12:18 -0800

Come on now. These people are job creators.

By: d. z. wang

d. z. wang — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:28:51 -0800

Maybe it helps that I didn't click on the audio links to hear Ms. Ruth's interviews, but I have trouble criticizing a 58 year old woman who sews twelve hours a day, seven days a week in addition to caring for her quadriplegic daughter. Either of those alone would be harder than I've ever worked.

By: IndigoRain

IndigoRain — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:46:52 -0800

Re the Ms. argument, I believe one of the pictures shows her husband coming home from his stall at a market.

By: double block and bleed

double block and bleed — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:56:38 -0800

I'll bet she's been really busy since Obama got elected.

By: workerant

workerant — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:18:16 -0800

The framed photo of Nathan Bedford Forrest was a nice decorating touch.

By: porn in the woods

porn in the woods — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:38:30 -0800

I'll send this link to my local police department so they can make sure they're not paying too much for their off-duty outfits. Thanks!

By: jopreacher

jopreacher — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:11:42 -0800

Maybe it helps that I didn't click on the audio links to hear Ms. Ruth's interviews, but I have trouble criticizing a 58 year old woman who sews twelve hours a day, seven days a week in addition to caring for her quadriplegic daughter. Either of those alone would be harder than I've ever worked. Actually, I don't think you would have changed your mind much. After listening to the audio, you find that shes not really that racist. Listen to the last pictures audio to hear her talk about how in the beginning of the clan, it didn't matter if you were black or white. (Not that I believe the history, I just thought all the audio was an interesting whitewash of the whole Klan)

By: jcreigh

jcreigh — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:22:58 -0800

After listening to the audio, you find that shes not really that racist. Listen to the last pictures audio to hear her talk about how in the beginning of the clan, it didn't matter if you were black or white. I also thought that was very interesting. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find that she believes in this completely made-up alternate history. But it still kind of boggles my mind that you can make a KKK robe with a confederate flag on it, stage cross burnings, and still be all "What? We're not racist!"

By: Leezie

Leezie — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:01:16 -0800

I would be really curious to know the content of her blessing. "May you go on to terrorize everyone you hate really well?" And, of course they have to be in Louisiana. Can't Mississippi take this one?

By: gjc

gjc — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:11:43 -0800

That house looked exactly like Napoleon Dynamite's house.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:43:04 -0800

Yes, that mythology about the integrated Klan really ?!?!? But of course it fits in with the whole "the Civil War was just about states' rights and the real evil was Reconstruction" legend. Remember that one of the ways Ashley Wilkes displays his "heroism" in the novel of Gone With the Wind is by being one of the founding Klansmen.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:40:08 -0800

KKK in Tokyo. It's actually a construction company, I think.

By: rdr

rdr — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:01:55 -0800

But it still kind of boggles my mind that you can make a KKK robe with a confederate flag on it, stage cross burnings, and still be all "What? We're not racist!" Yes it does boggle the mind but it does happen.

By: evilDoug

evilDoug — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:56:29 -0800

I always think of Andres Serrano's work with the Klan.

By: Uther Bentrazor

Uther Bentrazor — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:22:31 -0800

Aside from everything else, I will note that I was not aware that "Exalted Cyclops" is a term for a Klan leader. It makes John Goodman's character from "O Brother Where Art Thou" make even more sense, in fact, it almost makes the eye-patch he wore to be gilding the lily a bit for those who missed the reference (like, well... me, apparently.)

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:37:55 -0800

We got nothing to hide