Here's a Deeply Disturbing First Look at A&E's Docuseries 'Escaping the KKK' (UPDATE)

The preview for 'Escaping the KKK' looks at how the Klan is recuiting children and how activists are working against the white supremacist hate group.

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Complex Original

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UPDATE (12/24/16 4:00 p.m.):

A&E has reportedly canceled its KKK-focused docuseries ahead of its Jan 10. premiere, according to a statement issued by A&E and published by Variety. A&E cites ethical violations for the the cancelation, adding that "cash payments" were made in exchange for access to participants in the documentary.

Read the full statement below:

The documentary ‘Escaping the KKK’ was intended to serve as a close look at anti-hate extractors focused on helping people leave the Ku Klux Klan—the racist hate group with a long history of violence against African Americans and others. Our goal with this series has always been to expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms.

See original story below.

A&E has released a seven-minute preview of its upcoming series about the modern Klansmen, Escaping the KKK. Needless to say, it's extremely disturbing.

When the network first announced the series under the title KKK Generation, many were concerned that the show would glorify the white supremacist hate group. To put it bluntly, that would be the last thing America needs right now. After processing the backlash, producers of the series changed its title to Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America, making more explicit that they would not be taking a sympathetic look at the growing white supremacist movement.

Based on the new title and the seven-minute clip above, it seems the series may focus instead on how the hate group is indoctrinating children into its racist ideologies, as well as on the activists working to dismantle the KKK’s influence and to provide support for people who want to leave the powerful and intimidating group.

The creepy clip starts by showing Steven Howard, the 34-year-old Imperial Wizard of the North Mississippi White Knights, gifting Klan gear to his young daughters. Howard’s nonchalant racism and footage of him convincing children to join his Junior Klan group are incredibly upsetting. He is also seen burning crosses, and defending the practice by calling it a “religious ceremony.”

“I want to be the next David Duke,” he looks into the camera and smiles. “I want to see them saying my name at presidential debates.”

Howard also says he wants his own daughter Maggie to be the first female Imperial Wizard. However, the clip depicts Maggie as secretly resentful of her affiliation with the Klan. She explains to the filmmakers that, despite her family’s beliefs, her best friends are black (a fact she hides from her father).

The clip also highlights the work of anti-racism activist Daryle Lamont Jenkins and the One People’s Project and their mission to unravel the teachings of men like Howard in the communities recruited by the Klan.

The documentary series premieres Jan. 10, just ten days before Donald Trump is scheduled to be sworn in as President of the United States.

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