Coming to Grips With the Klansman in the Family Tree

DIRTY SHEETS

Edward Ball has written about his ancestors who owned slaves. Now he tackles the great-great-grandfather who fought for the South and joined the Klan.

Published Sep. 7 2020 5:02AM EDT

200909-Ball-tease_llfhxr — Courtesy of Stephen Weil

It’s not everyone who wants to understand the motivations of a relative who was a white supremacist, but Edward Ball is not everyone. Ball’s 1998 National Book Award-winner Slaves

Lewis Beale

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Coming to Grips With the Klansman in the Family Tree

Edward Ball has written about his ancestors who owned slaves. Now he tackles the great-great-grandfather who fought for the South and joined the Klan.

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Lewis Beale