My Opinion On The Confederate Flag

Hey All!

I don't know if you know this, but politics & social issues really interest me. I've wanted to try and incorporate that kind of stuff into my blog, but I wasn't sure how. I decided I would start by sharing this essay that I wrote. I'd love to hear your opinions on this in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

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The Confederate flag and confederate symbols are hateful and racist. Granted, people still do believe that it is okay to fly this flag for reasons ranging from claims that it represents nothing derogatory, to ideas of southern pride, to the fact that they want to honor their ancestors for fighting for a cause they believed in. It’s important to know that the majority of the people who do have these views are 75% of white southerners, with 75% of African-Americans in the opposite position, they believe the flag is racist (CNN.com poll). These poll results show how much of a divide the confederate flag causes, and it helps us further understand that until we get rid of the confederate flag and the messages it represents the Civil War will not really be over.

Many say that the confederate flag is representative of southern pride, because it displays the freedom and bravery of the south. I disagree. Though it is remarkable that the South was able to go after a common goal, that’s about the only thing worth celebrating. As the Vice President of the Confederacy said, “Our new Government is founded...upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition.” (Cornerstone Speech, Teaching American History) Having pride in a place whose leader believed this is absolutely disgusting. That quote holding true, the basis of the confederacy is white supremacy, and being that the flag is the Confederacy’s symbol means whenever it is flown it is advertising white supremacy and slavery. That is not something to be proud of. This leads me to another point. Symbols are much more powerful than they get credit for, the Confederate ones included. Symbols inspire culture, behavior, actions, and groups to form. Here is a present day example. On June 17th, 2016 Dylann Roof - a white male - open fired on a African-American church. After investigation it was found that he was a supporter and owner of much Confederate motif and flags. (CBS) There is a connection here. When one is surrounded by racist symbols it is all they can do not to start following the messages they stand for, Roof being an example. Also, the South is 57% black, yet the majority of these African-Americans chose not not to fly the flag. If the majority of southern citizens believe the flag and symbols are racist then it really isn’t a matter of “southern pride”.

“The Confederate flag honors my ancestors” is a common argument for keeping the Confederate flag (EveryDayFeminsm.Com). As someone with ancestors who fought for the Confederacy I do understand the want to remember them, in fact, I think it’s important to. That being said, celebrating what they fought for is not the politically correct or conscious way to do so. There are other ways to honor your ancestors that don’t degrade other’s entire existences. Think flowers on the grave, family photo albums, museum exhibits, etc.

Another huge point for the Confederate cause and it’s symbols is that is doesn’t represent slavery or white supremacy. That is incorrect. The South was fighting to hold onto their way of life, which included slavery (BBC). The creator of the flag said, “As a people we are fighting to maintain the heavenly ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race, [this flag] would thus be emblematical of our cause.” (William T. Thompson, Our Flag by George Henry Preble) I feel as though these two pieces of information say it all. The Confederacy was fighting to keep enslaving the African-Americans and uphold white supremacy. To have such a large distribution of things representing this is a disgrace to our nation.

There should be no debate. To have symbols promoting violence, oppression, and discrimination is un-American. We need to disallow Confederate symbols in public places as to curb hate crimes, ignorance, white-supremacy, racial inequality, and racism. This is one of the only way we can keep America whole, and so actions need to be taken to remove Confederate symbols from public places.