--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Byrd, the former Klu [sic] Klux Klan…" description: "\"Byrd, the former Klu [sic] Klux Klan Kleagle, is taking a stand over states' rights, or his rights over State, or some such. Whatever the reason, the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/mark-steyn-1844_birmingham_byrd-the-former-klu-sic-klux-klan-kleagl_856828.png" --- # Byrd, the former Klu \[sic\] Klux Klan Kleagle, is taking a… ![“Byrd, the former Klu [sic] Klux Klan Kleagle, is taking a stand over states' rights, or his rights over State, or some such. Whatever the reason, the sight of an old Klansman blocking a little colored girl from Birmingham from getting into her office contributed to the general retro vibe that…” quote by Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/mark-steyn-1844_birmingham_byrd-the-former-klu-sic-klux-klan-kleagl_856828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/mark-steyn-1844_birmingham_byrd-the-former-klu-sic-klux-klan-kleagl_856828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/mark-steyn-1844_birmingham_byrd-the-former-klu-sic-klux-klan-kleagl_856828.png) > “Byrd, the former Klu \[sic\] Klux Klan Kleagle, is taking a stand over states' rights, or his rights over State, or some such. Whatever the reason, the sight of an old Klansman blocking a little colored girl from Birmingham from getting into her office contributed to the general retro vibe that hangs around the Democratic Party these days.” [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author critiques the Democratic Party’s perceived nostalgia and its handling of race issues. **In simple terms:** Criticizes perceived retro attitudes in the party. Key Takeaway Question party narratives. Themes politics race history identity media Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - voting decisions - public discourse - activism - media consumption Key Concepts sociology political science cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How do historical narratives shape current politics? - What role does media play in shaping party images? A Different Perspective Complex political realities may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birmingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birmingham/) [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Byrd Klu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/byrd-klu-809573/) [Colored girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colored-girls-34851/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/) [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Klan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/klan/) [Klan Kleagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/klan-kleagle-809570/) [Klansman Blocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/klansman-blocking-809571/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Old Klansman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-klansman-809575/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Retro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retro/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-rights/) [Taking a stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-a-stand/) [These days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/these-days/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that I was connected to Africa. I wasn't just a Colored girl. I was part of a whole world that wanted a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/i-realized-that-i-was-connected-to-africa-i-wasn-t-just-a-colored/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [I don't want you to praise me...Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-don-t-want-you-to-praise-me-some-praise-me-because-i-am-a-colored/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [And this is for Colored girls who have considered suicide, but are moving to the ends of their own rainbows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/and-this-is-for-colored-girls-who-have-considered-suicide-but-are/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [“but bein alive & bein a woman & bein colored is a metaphysical dilemma/ i havent conquered yet/ do you see the point my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/but-bein-alive-bein-a-woman-bein-colored-is-a-metaphysical-dilemma-i/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-miscegenation-laws-of-the-south-only-operate-against-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't know what's wrong with that girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-evans/i-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-that-girl/) [Reggie Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-evans/) > [I feel like any single woman of color who's been onstage has a Shakespeare monologue in her back pocket, and a monologue from 'For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-feel-like-any-single-woman-of-color-who-s-been-onstage-has-a/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [Part of the racialized sexism wants everyone to think that a 15-year old Mexican is not a girl, she’s a woman. We know she’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/part-of-the-racialized-sexism-wants-everyone-to-think-that-a-15-year/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Some people cling to the belief that the Civil War was fought over states' rights. But history is not on their side. 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On paper, the states remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/for-states-rights-advocates-the-constitution-is-like-a-contract-that/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [What began as a bitter dispute over Union and States' Rights, ended as a struggle over the meaning of freedom in America. At Gettysburg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/what-began-as-a-bitter-dispute-over-union-and-states-rights-ended-as/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Wringing your hands about states' rights, forget it. They're gone. Basically, the federal government can do whatever it wants. Who's going to protect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/wringing-your-hands-about-states-rights-forget-it-they-re-gone/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Demographically, I'm a hippie from San Francisco and I'm not culturally inclined to be sympathetic to states' rights. My cultural heritage is FDR and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/demographically-i-m-a-hippie-from-san-francisco-and-i-m-not/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) ## More by Mark Steyn > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [“The populations of wealthy democratic societies expect to have total choice over their satellite TV packages, yet think it perfectly normal to allow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-populations-of-wealthy-democratic-societies-expect-to-have-total/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [For Al Gore and Paul Ehrlich and Co., whatever the problem, the solution is always the same. 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Which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/almost-by-definition-secularism-cannot-be-a-future-it-s-a-present/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Her Majesty's government is engaging not merely in Orwellian Newspeak but in self-defeating Orwellian Newspeak. The broader message it sends is that ours is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/her-majesty-s-government-is-engaging-not-merely-in-orwellian-newspeak/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) [Explore all 204 Mark Steyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) ## More Birmingham quotes > [I don't think anything happens without the press, one way or the other. I think it's all done for it. You saw it start,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-don-t-think-anything-happens-without-the-press-one-way-or-the-other/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [I remember I played Birmingham and I'd been awake for about a week and I was walking about like a raving lunatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cinnamon/i-remember-i-played-birmingham-and-i-d-been-awake-for-about-a-week/) [Gerry Cinnamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cinnamon/) > [I admire Tom Ades: he's a brilliant conductor, and he gets just the right hard, brilliant sound from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-admire-tom-ades-he-s-a-brilliant-conductor-and-he-gets-just-the/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [“Nobody wants a house in Osaka,' he said, and it was strange to hear him switch suddenly to foreign pronunciation in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-pulley/nobody-wants-a-house-in-osaka-he-said-and-it-was-strange-to-hear-him/) [Natasha Pulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-pulley/) > [I went to university in the north of England at University of Birmingham to do an English literature degree, and I knew I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/i-went-to-university-in-the-north-of-england-at-university-of/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [Obviously it's very hard to leave a club that you've supported all your life. 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