I live right up the road from Rising Sun. Many of my co-workers live there.
The following is what I was told by one of them - I cannot vouch to it's authenticity:
It is my understanding that in this group of freinds is one black kid. He was, apparently, going to go to the dance with this group and wear a noose around his neck but changed his mind at the last minute.
In the late '80's, a Black couple came to a Halloween party we had...dressed in Klan robes. At first, everyone was a little confused or shocked...But this couple, one might argue, kind of has a "License" to lampoon the KKK. They were known for a whacky sense of humor, and when the initial shock wore off, everyone was ROTFL. Mostly, I admired their err...brass.
The Klan robes, with the black hands coming out of the sleeves was just too much of a sight gag.
I recall many years ago, one black guy joined the KKK by mail, and was granted the title of "Kleegel" or something, where he was empowered to form local groups. His smiling photo, holding the document, was splashed all over the papers.
So it really depends on WHO is wearing the robes, and why, doesn't it?