Life of a Klansman

Life of a Klansman traces the path of Constant Lecorgne, the author's great-great-grandfather, through the racial violence and white supremacist movements of post-Civil War New Orleans. Ball reconstructs his ancestor's life through historical records, family documents, and broader cultural research of the Reconstruction era. The narrative follows Lecorgne from his origins as a carpenter to his involvement with the White League and other terrorist organizations targeting Black citizens in Louisiana. The author combines genealogical investigation with broader historical analysis of white supremacy in the American South. Through examining his own family's direct connection to racist violence, Ball presents both an intimate family history and a wider examination of how white terrorism shaped the post-war period. This work analyzes the ongoing impact of white supremacist heritage on contemporary American society. The book challenges readers to consider how past racial violence continues to influence present-day structures and attitudes.

Readers note the book effectively humanizes racist family history without excusing it. Many appreciate Ball's unflinching examination of his ancestor's participation in white supremacy and how he connects historical events to present-day racism. Readers highlight: - Detailed research and primary sources - Personal reflection on inherited racism - Clear connections between past and present racial violence Common criticisms: - Slow pacing and repetitive sections - Too much speculation about historical details - Some find the humanizing approach to a Klansman problematic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (523 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (185 ratings) Reader comments: "Ball shows how ordinary people become monsters" - Goodreads reviewer "Important but uncomfortable reading" - Amazon reviewer "Too much imagining of what might have happened" - Goodreads reviewer "Needed better editing to tighten narrative" - Amazon reviewer

Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz A journalist travels through the American South to understand how Civil War history shapes modern racial attitudes and cultural divisions.

White Rage by Carol Anderson The book traces systemic white resistance to Black advancement from Reconstruction through the present day through historical records and documentation.

Our Man in Charleston by Christopher Dickey British consul Robert Bunch's secret reports reveal the Southern aristocracy's true motives during the Civil War era through diplomatic correspondence and personal accounts.

The Second Coming of the KKK by Linda Gordon This examination of the Ku Klux Klan's revival in the 1920s shows how the organization penetrated mainstream American society through political and social networks.

White Too Long by Robert P. Jones A religious scholar uses historical analysis and statistical research to demonstrate the connection between white Christian churches and racial inequality in America.

🔹 Author Edward Ball traced his own ancestral history to write this book, focusing on his great-great-grandfather Constant Lecorgne, a carpenter who joined the Ku Klux Klan in Reconstruction-era New Orleans. 🔹 The book explores the complex racial history of New Orleans, where many white people, including the author's ancestors, had both European and African heritage despite identifying as white supremacists. 🔹 Ball conducted extensive research using newspapers, court records, and family documents to piece together his ancestor's story, as many Klan activities were deliberately kept out of official records. 🔹 The author previously won the National Book Award for his 1998 work "Slaves in the Family," another personal exploration of his family's role in slavery and racial oppression. 🔹 The book examines how ordinary, working-class people—not just wealthy plantation owners—participated in and perpetuated white supremacy in the post-Civil War South.