Florida is known for its sunny beaches, diverse culture, and tourist attractions. But it is also home to some of the most hateful and racist groups in the country. According to a recent study by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida has the second-highest number of known hate groups in the U.S., with 68 active groups as of 2021.
These groups include white supremacists, neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, neo-Confederates, and black separatists. But which county in Florida has the most racist people? And what are the factors that contribute to the prevalence of hate in the Sunshine State?
Callahan: The Most Racist County in Florida
One way to measure the historical racism of a county is to look at the number of Klaverns, or local chapters, of the Ku Klux Klan that existed there in the past. The KKK is one of the oldest and most notorious hate groups in America, with a history of violence and terror against black people, Jews, Catholics, immigrants, and other minorities. The KKK has had three major waves of activity: the first one after the Civil War, the second one in the 1920s, and the third one in the 1950s and 1960s.
Using data from Saturday Night Science, a project by the Virginia Commonwealth University that mapped Klaverns by city from 1915 to 1940, we can identify the cities and counties in Florida that had the most Klaverns per capita. The city with the most number of Klaverns was DeLand, with three Klaverns.
DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, which had a total of four Klaverns. However, the city and county with the most number of Klaverns per capita was Callahan, with one Klavern for every 1,250 people. Callahan is a small town in Nassau County, which had a total of two Klaverns.
Callahan is located in northeastern Florida, near the border with Georgia. It has a population of about 1,500 people, of which 86% are white and 11% are black, according to the 2010 census. The town was founded in 1861 and named after a Confederate soldier who died in the Civil War.
The town has a history of racial segregation and discrimination, as well as violence and intimidation by the KKK. In 1926, a black man named John Morine was lynched by a mob of white men in Callahan, after he was accused of raping a white woman.
The lynching was witnessed by hundreds of people, including children, and was reported by newspapers across the country. The KKK also burned crosses, distributed flyers, and held rallies in Callahan and other parts of Nassau County in the 1920s and 1930s.
Why is Florida So Hateful?
The presence of hate groups and racist attitudes in Florida is not surprising, given the state’s history and demographics. Florida was a slave state before the Civil War and a Jim Crow state after it, enforcing racial segregation and oppression of black people until the 1960s.
Florida also experienced a large influx of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and other Asian countries, in the second half of the 20th century.
These newcomers faced discrimination and hostility from some of the native-born white residents, who felt threatened by their culture, religion, and language. Florida also has a large population of retirees, veterans, and conservative Christians, who tend to have more traditional and nationalist views on race, immigration, and politics.
Florida’s geography and climate also play a role in fostering hate. Florida is a large and diverse state, with urban and rural areas, coastal and inland regions, and different cultural and economic zones. This creates a sense of fragmentation and isolation among some communities, who may feel alienated from the rest of the state and the country.
Florida is also prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, which can cause stress, trauma, and hardship for many people. These factors can make some people more vulnerable to the propaganda and recruitment of hate groups, who offer them a sense of identity, belonging, and security.
How to Combat Hate in Florida
Hate is not inevitable, nor is it irreversible. There are many ways to counter hate and promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion in Florida and elsewhere. Some of the strategies that can help are:
- Educating people about the history and impact of racism and hate groups, and exposing their lies and myths.
- Supporting the victims and targets of hate crimes and incidents, and reporting them to the authorities and the media.
- Challenging and confronting hate speech and actions, both online and offline, and holding the perpetrators accountable.
- Building coalitions and alliances among different groups and communities, and celebrating their cultures and contributions.
- Engaging in dialogue and exchange with people who have different backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives, and finding common ground and mutual respect.
Hate is a problem that affects everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or orientation. It is also a problem that can be solved by everyone, through collective action and individual responsibility. By working together, we can make Florida a more welcoming and peaceful place for all.
Conclusion
Florida is a beautiful and diverse state, but it also has a dark and ugly side. It is home to some of the most racist and hateful people and groups in the country, who spread fear, violence, and division. The most racist county in Florida, according to historical data, is Callahan, which had the highest number of KKK Klaverns per capita. The reasons for the high level of hate in Florida are complex and multifaceted, involving history, demographics, geography, and climate.
However, hate is not a permanent or natural condition, but a learned and changeable one. There are many ways to combat hate and promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion in Florida and elsewhere, such as education, support, challenge, coalition, and dialogue. By doing so, we can make Florida a better place for ourselves and for future generations.