Category: book-review

This is a true story. The actions happened one hundred years ago.

What happened is abhorrent.

That it happened is unconscionable.

That history may be repeating itself is terrifying.

I even hesitated to write this book review because of fear. But if I learned anything from this book, it is to speak when you need, because no one else will.

This is a book of how men feed on the fears of others to profit for themselves. After reconstruction the South found ways to intimidate the slaves that they had once owned. Even if emancipated, there continued to be groups that believe Blacks were inferior to Whites. Men took to wearing white sheets to imitate ghosts to scare those that are different from them. Thus, the Ku Klux Klan was born. The federal government just after the war was able to dampen this fervor, but after Lincoln was assassinated, pressure from the Southern states to keep the parties together led to an easing of the concerns. Hiram Evans, head of the Klan, looked to expand its influence north. At the same time D.C. Stephenson landed in Indiana. With no real known history, he was able to charm his way into the Klan while finding ways to enrich himself along the way. This money, as well as his charm, led to a huge increase in Klan membership in Indiana – a state that had sent the most men to fight the South in the Civil War. Fear was used openly to prey on “others” to ensure a pure race of “true Americans” – White Protestant Men – who would use this fear to buy politicians, police, store owners, bankers, priests and more to create structural walls to keep these “others” from economic, educational, and social gains. Money helped to hide that D.C. Stephenson, and many others such as Daisy Douglas Barr, helped build this empire of fear. They created a shadow police force that was above the law, and thought of themselves above it too. They were, however, practicing the drinking and debauchery they were deriding in others.

D.C. Stephenson, specifically, threw huge parties flowing with alcohol during Prohibition. Naked women were available to men. People showed up and were photographed in compromising positions that D.C. used against them to get what he wanted. All along, D.C. was assaulting women – something that he had done to a few of them that he married but didn’t tell anyone about. Then one day he decided that Madge Oberholtzer was his next victim. He lured her to his mansion, drugged her, forced her to board a train to Chicago where he brutally assaulted her – not only raping her but biting out chunks of her flesh. She was able to buy poison to kill herself to escape, but decided after she had taken half a dose that she needed to stay alive to make him pay. Her mother’s presence at the Stephenson mansion led to Madge being abruptly taken home, ill and badly beaten. There Madge was able to dictate and correct a testimony of what happened to her. It is through this testimony, and that of the coroner and doctor that treated her, that brought about D.C Stephenson’s indictment.

D.C. was not concerned about losing the murder case brought against him. He had people owing him, all the way up to the governor’s office. What he didn’t count on was that the men of the jury had seen through his charade and were only concerned about the penalty he would pay. If not for these men, D.C. would not have turned on those that did not save him, spilling the whole sordid story – memberships and secrets – to make these men pay for the betrayal. The whole of the plan to land D.C. in the white house would never have come to light otherwise. As he said himself – he would have been a dictator.

What truly scares me of this entirely true story is the comparisons of today: 

D.C. Stephenson, a drifter and con-man, arrives in Indiana. He has tried his hand at a number of enterprises that failed, has left wives and a child along the way. His personal history was ever shifting. He began to peddle hatred – of Blacks, Catholics, Irish, Italian and Jews. Anyone that is not “fully Americanized.” This meant white, protestant, born here – no disabilities or mental challenges allowed. He rises quickly through the ranks of an organization – the Klu Klux Klan – as he enriches himself through cutting deals to take cuts of membership fees, robe costs, bootlegging (during prohibition) and more. He gets people to fear others. He begins to bring politicians, police, and priests into the fold, helping propel a reign of terror in Indiana while giving a group think of “being right”. He claims “I am the law.” After multiple assaults on women, one finally speaks out on the cannibalistic and brutal assault she endured. He is indicted, but his slate of politicians still wins. 

Donald J Trump, a con-man, arrives on reality tv, trying out his latest enterprise by saying he’s so successful. To my recollection there has been an airline, a university, a board game, a vodka, steaks, water, magazines, casinos, winery, and cologne businesses that have failed. He has left wives and children. He has peddled hatred – of outsiders from other countries, people with disabilities, veterans, and women. He talks about bringing back America to those that deserve it – the White Protestant Americans that make up his political base. He has been known to put a price on loyalty to him above anything else. Women have claimed he has slept with them (e.g. Stormy Daniels) or raped them (E Jean Carroll). He has claimed he can shoot someone on Wall Street and get away with it. He is indicted, but he still has the nomination of the Republican party. He has said he would be dictator.

Who will be today’s brave soul that will stand against the fear to do what is right? Only time will tell.