A&E has been home for many controversial shows centered around the real lives of every day people. Well, their latest docu-series may be pushing the limits a bit too far.
“Generation KKK” is an eight part series centered around four Klans families and the moral struggle of being in a life of such deep rooted racism.
“This series gives viewers an unprecedented look at what it is like to be born into hate,” said A&E and Lifetime’s Executive Vice President and General Manager Rob Sharenow in a press release. “Our producers gained access to Klan families allowing for full immersion into this secret world and its impact on the next generation. ‘Generation KKK’ brings viewers inside the places where hatred and prejudice are born and bred, and carried forward or not.”
The show, which has been in the works for the past year and a half, is definitely expected to push some political boundaries but Sharenow maintains that the channel separates its self from the views of the KKK.
“We certainly didn’t want the show to be seen as a platform for the views of the KKK,” Rob said. “The only political agenda is that we really do stand against hate.”
“Generation KKK” began taking shape a year and a half ago — not long before the divisive election campaign emboldened Klan members and other nationalist groups in their belief that they were battling a white genocide — when the filmmaker Aengus James sent crews into the South. The goal: to show the Klan at the unvarnished grass-roots level.
“The struggles we were most drawn to were the struggles with the internal families,” said executive producer, Mr. James. “We had a stance, and we were clear with folks that we were hoping for them to see the light and to come out of this world. It’s an incredibly destructive environment for anybody to be in, let alone children.”
Real names will also be used during the show as well…. not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing but anyway. A&E has also implemented the other side of the debate by casting anti hate activists as well.
One activist, known as Mr. Howard, says the agenda is to save the children from being recruited into a lifetime of hate and bigotry.
“We all here for the same reason: we’re here for the preservation of our race and the preservation of our people,” said MHoward says on the show, voicing his dream of becoming the next David Duke. “If we don’t fight this battle, our children ain’t gonna have a future.”
Of course, the show has met its fair share of backlash as many people feel it’s a means to give racism an unnecessary platform. Well, Sharenow says his intentions behind the show are pure.
“I certainly think that A&E should be on the side of shining a light on things that aren’t really looked at,” Mr. Sharenow said. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say we’re an advocacy brand. But I do think there’s a message of hope in all these shows and a promise of redemption.”
The show is set to air on January 10th at 10 p.m. Will you be watching? Let’s chat below.
TSR STAFF: Debra Oh! @The_Ebony_Issue
