Mother Defends Decision to Allow Her 7-Year-Old Son to Dress as KKK Member for Halloween

A Virginia mother defended her decision Saturday to permit her 7-year-old son to dress up as a Ku Klux Klan member for Halloween, saying it is a family tradition.

Jessica Black is defending her decision to allow her 7-year-old son to dress up as a KKK member for Halloween. (Image source: WHSV)

"My brother has when he was in Kindergarten and when he was 13," said Jessica Black, whose son's costume has ignited heated controversy in the small town of Craigsville.

"I did tell him that if you do it, you know there's going to be people talking about you, there's going to be people saying bad things about you when you do wear it," she added.

Jessica Black claims it is a family tradition to dress as KKK members for Halloween. (Image source: WHSV)

7-year-old Jackson Black told WHSV that he learned of the KKK from the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" and wanted to dress up as a Klansman because he thought "it was cool."

7-year-old Jackson Black has drawn attention after dressing up as a KKK member for Halloween. (Image source: WHSV)

His mother told the local ABC affiliate that she sees nothing wrong with the costume or even the KKK, which she claims has a local presence in her community.

"It's suppose to be white with white. Black with black. Man with woman and all of that," Jessica Black told WHSV. "That's what the KKK stands for. The KKK every year, raises money to donate to the St. Jude's."

Neighbors, however, didn't share the same views.

"I just think it's really sad that a kid is being taught that. That young, because they don't know any better. You don't hear that much about it," Wendi Sprouse, who saw the child in the controversial costume, said.

Watch a local news clip, courtesy of WHSV:

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