Heritage not hate: the motto of so many people who believe that the Confederate flag is a cornerstone of the history of the South and is simply a symbol of those who fought in the Civil War. But the Confederate flag does not just represent the lives of those lost fighting for what they believed in, it symbolizes the racial oppression and White supremacy that kept Black Americans from being treated as people for so long in the United States, preventing them from being able to vote, receive quality educations, and even drink from the same water fountain as a White person in America.
The flag that became so famous because of Robert E. Lee’s army during the Civil War is a reminder of the racial prejudice that Blacks endured, that still remains
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When their goal was to keep Blacks at an inhumane level in society where they were owned by other people, forced to do manual labor for endless hours, that was represented by their flag as they fought to keep Blacks unequal. Ben Jones, who served as a Democrat in the House of Representatives from Georgia and is the chief of heritage operations for the Sons of Confederate Veterans argues that “To those 70 million of us whose ancestors fought for the South, it is a symbol of family members who fought for what they thought was right in their time” (Jones). Although the flag does represent the lives of people lost during the civil war, those people were fighting to continue to oppress Black lives in America, supporting the promotion of racism and prejudice of Black Americans. There is no denying that the flag represents the fight to maintain an economic system of slavery in the South, which ultimately makes the South’s heritage hate. The South’s heritage is believing in and …show more content…
Yes, it may represent Southerners fighting for what they believed in, but the Confederate flag is a symbol of the prejudice that was fought to be retained and spread throughout the United States. Jones claims that “Perceptions of the flag depend upon context. At a national cemetery or national battlefield, it is seen in the historical context of the American Civil War. ” (Jones). Heritage is hate. Our country’s past is the racism and slavery of Blacks. There is no separating the two. No matter the setting, the history is the same and the Confederate flag will still represent racism towards Blacks. I might be interpreted differently throughout the country, but the symbolism is still the same. There are so many ways to celebrate the heritage of the South and even with all the disputes over the use of the Confederate flag, people still continue to raise it pridefully; not because they are showing their pride in the South, but their pride in the prejudice of Blacks. To say that “the flag … has been seen as a symbol of a non-racist Southern spirit by millions of viewers internationally” (Jones) is simply false. No matter where you are in the country, the history is all the same: the South fought for slavery in the civil war. The Confederate Flag: a flag raised by Confederate soldiers fighting to keep Blacks from
In David Sarratt’s article “The Confederate Flag: Controversy and Culture” (2005), he explains both sides of the Confederate Flag controversy, including current controversy and the issue of race involved in the Confederate Flag. Sarratt supports his claim with facts and examples of the Confederate Flag debate between David Beasley, who thinks the flag should be taken down and Charles Condon who opposes taking the flag down. He gives reasons in order to not support the Confederate Flag and a few details to elaborate it as well. His article interests readers who are mostly against the Confederate Flag.
The author mentioned that some citizens are still perturbed by the Confederate flag. While the number is slowly waning, many citizens were a part of the civil rights movement. They watched racist people protest against them using the flag as a symbol of racism, oppression, and hatred. To some, the flag may serve as a permanent reminder that racism is not truly dead in America.
The confederate flag shouldn’t be taken down, but, if taken down shouldn’t be forgotten in the South.First of all, the confederate flag represents the history of South Carolina and the past and present . Second of all, even if the flag is taken down, the flag should be placed in a museum and the people of South Carolina should vote.Lastly, some people see the confederate flag has a racist flag, but, on the other side people think it represents the civil war and the people that died during that time. Some people believe, that the confederate flag represents racism, however, you could say that the flag represents the civil war and the people that died during that time.
Racist or history? Demeaning or heritage? Questions like these arise when the confederate flag is discussed. People may argue that the Confederate Flag is a racist hate symbol, but ultimately the flag’s roots are benign because it symbolizes history of war, southern pride, and secession of the confederate states. Being entitled to your own opinion is not wrong in itself, but once things are brought out of proportion it can harm others physically or emotionally. Learning the background of the Confederate flag can help some realize its true meaning and prevent more controversy.
No, Historically the confederate flag is an emblem of racial intolerance.Which is a beloved symbol for people like Dylann Roof who see the white race superior to all other.
Although the Confederate flag historically represented southern heritage, it has become a symbol of racism because it was used as a symbol of being pro-slavery and anti-civil rights. When a recent study was done on the views on the Confederate flag, most people checked the box that said "unmarked" which means either they just do
The American South. An area full of rich history and the home to some of the nation’s largest conflicts throughout history, such as the civil war and the civil rights movement. Southerners have always been proud of their heritage despite its rocky parts and display it for all to see with a 150 year old flag. This is proving to be problematic, though, as the Confederate flag they are all so proud of, is really only 50 years old and has been associated with ideals of white supremacy and racism. Some Southerners and other Americans choose to not believe the truth about the flag, others were never taught the truth. However, it is incredibly important in forming an opinion on the flag, and to whether or not the flag must be removed from state buildings. And the truth is, due to its historical affiliation to racist whites in the South, white supremacy groups, and recent events such as the Charleston Shooting, the Confederate rebel flag should not be flown on state buildings as it is not culturally sensitive to African American people who have been targeted by these people.
some people look at the Confederate flag and only see hate. There are people in this world that use the Confederate flag as a racist symbol, that is why people think it stands for hate. In Indiana the whole controversy over racism is not a big deal because people look at the Confederate flag and realize that it is a part of history and so many people lost their lives fighting for the Confederate flag and everything it symbolizes. In states like South Carolina there are still huge fights and shootings between a black and white person. There are still KKK groups in some of the southern states People don't take the time to think about what the flag symbolizes, because when they see the flag they instantly assume hate That is not the case for many people, a lot of veterans and other people see the flag as a symbol of heritage and do not want it taken down. The people that want it taken down has probably had racial comments or gestures made towards them, not to mention there are some people that just jump on one side of the controversy because they do not know which side is the right side and they don't want to be hated for making the wrong decision. There are some people that don't care whether the flag stays up or gets
“Countless white supremacy groups, use the flag often, and the 21-year-old white man who confessed Friday to killing nine black people at a historic church in Charleston, S.C, rocked the “rebel flag” on his license plate and took numerous pictures with the controversial flag.” Belton, Danielle. “Southern pride or Jim Crow’s death rattle? Everything you need to know about the confederate flag”. 23 June, 2015. Web. 30 August, 2015. Jim Crow laws were state laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States. For decades, the confederate flag was scampered during remembrances of the war and then for the most part was packed and out away. It was still a novelty until 1948. But, that was the year it went from Civil War indelible to political football, when he raised the wrath of pro-segregation Southern Democrats, also known as “Dixiecrats”. With the advancement to end the Jim Crow Laws, the flag got more and more popular among the segregation set, and was being used into many southern state flags and began to be flown alongside South Carolina’s state flag. A signal phrase that introduces quoting or paraphrasing.
This flag has been said to symbolize hate or racism. As stated by one of our great presidents, "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." (Lincoln) Robert E. Lee is the first commander to use this flag and as said by one author, “nearly 95% of Lee’s army that fought at Gettysburg did not own a single slave” (McPherson). This image of the South where everyone owns slaves is not correct. In fact, two authors say that, “The average white Southern family in antebellum America lived on a small farm without slaves. Slave ownership was the exception, not the rule” (Williamson and Cain). As presented by Williamson and Cain, “Over 80 percent of the free adult males in the South did not own slaves” (Measuring Slaves). Many 19th century Southern Americans are not. Most white people work on plantations with slaves for
On January 1992 the NAACP put in affect a boycott on South Carolina to pressure the state to remove the Confederate flag off of its Statehouse in Columbia. The boycott is what initially brought life to this issue. The NAACP’s removal request is based on the fact that they, the anti-flag groups, claim that the meaning of the Confederate flag is one of hate and discrimination. On the other hand, there are other groups that believe differently whom are called the pro-flag groups. They claim that the Confederate flag is a sign of heritage and should stay on South Carolina’s Statehouse. Anti-flag articles are more likely to be found published in well-known Liberal magazines, when credible pro-flag articles were hard
Is the confederate flag a true symbol of “Heritage or Hate”? Recently there has been a big debate over the nation for the flying confederate flag. Many states in America’s south had the confederate flag as a part of their state flag, but this has been changed over the past few months. This confederate flag has been known and flown for many battles over the past century and a half, which was ever since the start of the Civil War in 1861. Some people today see this flag as a symbol of hatred and are willing to get rid of it by taking it down. On the other hand, some people see this flag as a symbol of American history and want to keep this flag flying for heritage. The real question is who is right and why?
Hear the Northern thunders mutter! Northern flags in South’s winds flutter! To Arms, To Arms, To Arms in Dixie! Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the cursed alliance! To Arms, To Arms, To Arms in Dixie! Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah! For Dixie’s land we take our stand, And we live or die for Dixie! To Arms! To Arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! To Arms! To Arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! –Confederacy chant. Many people praise it, display it, and chant it, yet others view it with pure disgust. Once again, the Confederate or “Rebel Flag has been shoved onto the table of debate due to the raising of the flag in front of the South Carolina State House. So much debate has arose that President Obama was questioned where this flag should be placed? President Obama replied with a very considerate answer. His answer was, “In a museum.” But why would he want to take down the flag and retire it? Many have applauded him upon the issue, yet others are left confused as to why? Many people fly the Confederate Flag with pride and none of which are racist. In fact, the flag does not even represent
Is the Confederate flag really a flag of hate? Contrary to popular belief, the Confederate flag does not stand for racism, it stands for freedom. It stands for the men who lost their lives fighting for a doomed country, white and black. It stands for not letting others push you around and control you. I stands for the “bad side” in the Civil War. It is the proof that despite the fact that we boast about being stubborn, we are ignorant to the fact that all we do is follow the crowd. It represents a piece of history incredibly rich, yet so full of sorrow, that we are trying to erase. But people do not see this, they only see hate, and they are too oblivious to truly understand what this symbol of liberty stands for. This is why the
The Confederate flag was and is still loved my many particularly those of white race. Controversy of this flag dates back to 2 or so years ago to now. In highschool I remember hearing of black people tearing down the confederate statues, at the time I didn’t understand the symbolism that it possessed.