A Town Divided
This photo sums up the divisive state of our country right now, but nowhere is it more prevalent than in Harrison, Arkansas. This town is deemed the most racist town in America, but many people who live there feel their town's image is not accurate.
The whiteprideradio.com billboard, shown in the photo above, is the first thing seen when driving into Harrison. It has been up since 2013. People have fought to have it removed for years, but the piece of land it sits on is privately owned by Jason Robb, who happens to be a relative of Thomas Robb, director of the Knight's Party (also known as The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan). Due to 1st Ammendment rights, Robb can post what he wants on the billboard because it sits on his property.
A task force was created to try to help race relations in this town, since the KKK is headquartered there. Many want the town to be portrayed in a more friendly and welcoming way, but as Harrison Task Force on Race Relations member, Layne Ragsdale, says, "The billboard is a stain on the image" of Harrison and the fear is that, "The image can create a reality". Interestingly, a petition was signed by 8,000 people trying to get the billboard removed. The population of Harrison in 2021 was 13,195. This makes it seem that the majority of the town is not in support of the KKK, and does not agree with the image being presented with the billboard at the entry to the town. It makes Rasdale's comment about the "image creating a reality" seemingly true. Because the billboard stands at the entrance to the town,still and the town headquarters the KKK, the town is deemed the most racist place in America, whether the majority of people who live there agree.
This video definitely makes it seem that the town is racist. Before watching it, please know the language is explicit, and the messages are disturbing.
On the flipside, here is news footage that speaks to the contrary.
Noah Tucker/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GI42BCNN7RBERED5IABUUB7LQI.png)
Who created this message?
The whiteprideradio.com billboard was put up by Jason Robb. He is an attorney and supporter of the Knight's Party. He owns the land this billboard sits on and is related to the director of the KKK.
The video was created by Rob Bliss in 2021. He wanted to see what the reaction would be in "the most racist town in America".
What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?
They posted this billboard as you drive into the town, so everybody sees it. By posting the cross, with the slogan "For the Family", it makes it seem like this group is a positive religious group.
How might different people interpret this message differently than me?
Obviously, people interpret this message with 2 very different viewpoints. Supporters of the KKK embrace the sign and are proud to have it promoted to everybody who passes through this town. On the flipside, many people in the town want it removed because it is bringing a bad image to a town that they want viewed positively.
The Black Lives Matter sign was met with hostility in this town. People had very strong feelings about it being held up in their town. They also seemed to take offense to a white person holding it. Rob Bliss had to have known he was stirring up controversy by bringing this sign into Harrison. We don't know how many people he edited out who had no problem with the sign or even supported him, other than the last person shown, but the hostility was very clearly shown.
What viewpoints or world views are included or left out of this message?
I think I posted the 2 different viewpoints with the videos I posted. This town is divided, as is much of our country, and even the world. The hatred shown in the YouTube video is frightening. Thankfully, the video shows one person agreeing with the peaceful way Rob Bliss is promoting his message.
Why is this message being sent?
The billboard is posted to promote the Knight's Party and spread their message. Rob Bliss's video is posted trying to prove the town as being the most racist town in America. Although I do not support the KKK in any way, I do believe that the way Rob Bliss edited the video, it leaves the question of what the viewpoint of others in the town really felt about the Black Lives Matter sign being held up in their town.