Superman Versus The Klan

Shortly after WWII, Stetson Kennedy went undercover in the Ku Klux Klan and pretty much singlehandedly brought them to their knees. He had some keen help, however, from news commentator Drew Pearson and a certain, well known immigrant that goes by the name of Superman.

In honour of Bryan Singer's new, and rather splendid, Superman Returns, I thought I'd point you to some sources in which you can read all about how Superman crippled the Klan - in real life. This will keep you in dinner party gambits for the next three years.

Kennedy's own account of his Klan busting, The Klan Unmasked, is probably the best place to begin; The World History Blog gives a nice summary of Superman's involvement; and NPR have a short chat with Kennedy about StoryCorps that also goes into Superman's historical battles with the KKK.

An amazing story, and a testament to the power of storytelling, mythmaking and even the most ficitional of heroism.