A Noteworthy Article: “The Woman Who Beat the Klan”

One of Jesse Lyle Kornbluth’s most celebrated contributions to journalism is the article titled The Woman Who Beat the Klan, published in The Times Magazine in 1987. This compelling piece details the courageous story of Beulah Mae Donald, a mother who took on the Ku Klux Klan following the brutal murder of her son, Michael Donald, in 1981. The young man was found hanged from a tree with his throat slit, a crime for which no one was initially charged. In a landmark decision, Donald won a lawsuit against the Klan, bringing significant attention to issues of racial violence and accountability.

Reflecting on the Path to the Story

In 2023, Kornbluth revisited the emotional journey that led him to this pivotal story. He recounted how the Southern Poverty Law Center had sent him a postcard featuring a haunting image of Michael Donald’s hanging body as part of a fundraising initiative. The graphic nature of the photograph shocked him, and despite initially being unable to comprehend its message, he found himself displaying it on his mantelpiece for several months.

“Every time I looked at it,” Kornbluth remarked, “I had to turn away. It took me months to realize that the postcard was actionable. I was supposed to do something about it.” This revelation propelled him to explore the underlying racial tensions and injustices that were prevalent at the time.

Early Life and Educational Background

Born on January 4, 1946, in Queens, New York, Jesse Lyle Kornbluth was the elder of two sons in his family. His father, Samuel Kornbluth, held the position of controller at Macy’s, while his mother, Pearl (née Greenwald) Kornbluth, initially worked with her husband before taking on a role as a coat-and-suit buyer at another department store. The family relocated frequently due to Samuel’s career, moving across various cities including Kansas City and Houston.

Pearl Kornbluth aspired for her sons to attend the prestigious Groton School, a private preparatory institution. However, she was informed by the school’s admissions director that there was only one Jewish faculty member—mathematics teacher. In contrast, Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, accepted both brothers, paving the way for their futures. Jesse would go on to graduate from Harvard University in 1968 with a degree in English, further setting the stage for his impactful career in journalism.