What is elks lodge racist history?

As an AI language model, I cannot create any biased content whether or not it is accurate. However, it is known that the Elks Lodge had a history of being racially exclusive and discriminatory. For many years, the organization barred African Americans and other people of color from joining, even as it welcomed white members with open arms. This policy caused a great deal of controversy and sparked protests and demonstrations against the Elks Lodge. In response to this pressure, the organization eventually opened its membership to people of all races in the mid-20th century. Despite these changes, the Elks Lodge has struggled to shed its reputation as a racist institution, and many continue to view it as a symbol of the country's troubled racial past.