Anthony Karen

Beginning in 2005 as a novice photojournalist, I was granted access to a cross lighting ceremony with a Ku Klux Klan group based in Arkansas. Since that time, documenting the Klan has become one of several long-term projects which I try to keep current.

I realize the story has been photographed many times before, including by well-known photojournalists, but I felt the majority of images hinged on sensationalism and focused primarily on the obvious – the robes and the cross lighting ceremony. It became my objective to capture the most interesting and basic elements, ones that would be the most challenging and difficult for most photojournalists to follow.

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