Over the years there have been many efforts in America to attempt to resolve racial equality. Although these efforts are good ideas, they do not always work and have proven at times to make things worse. In the U.S., Confederate flags are still used in racist ways towards blacks, there is evidence of racist police brutality, and there are still believers of “white supremacy.” Recently, there have been rallies where individuals voice hateful, racist opinions. Racism is not over in America.
The Confederate Flag, a treasure to many whites in the South is from a battle that they will never forget. To others it is seen as a form of racism due to the KKK, or Ku Klux Klan, which adapted the flag as their own. Long ago, the Confederate flag was known as a battle flag used by many Southern Armies in the American Civil War. Later, in the 20th century the KKK adopted the flag, continuing their white supremacist campaign. Many consider the flag to be racist because it became a potent symbol of slavery and white supremacism over the years. “To many white Southerners, the flag is an emblem of regional heritage and pride. But to others, it has a starkly different meaning — representing racism, slavery, and the country’s long history of oppression of African Americans” (Smith, 6/24/15). People who support the flag for the soul reason that it represents their state positively from the Civil War era should not show the flags publicly because it is considered racist and disrespectful to black
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
The Confederate flag has now become a hot issue for South Carolina, which is the last state to have the original Confederate flag still flying on its Statehouse. What got the State’s attention was the economic boycott of South Carolina that was announced on January 1992 by the NAACP to pressure the State to remove the Confederate flag off of its Statehouse in Columbia. 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
From the 1860's to the 2000's a lot has happened with war and people's opinions on many things , Stories are getting jumbled up including this flag’s history because it has been in history for so long and people are adding their opinions that are ridiculous and that may also be one of the things that has influenced people's thoughts on the flag and not only that but the flag came from a very rough time in history and in ways it is very understanding that people got their thoughts influenced and that's why we should should take the time and help them have a better understanding on the confederate flags meaning. The rebel flag has and will always be bashed because of its history, but it is not completely racist and is not intended to be used to show hatred because of the color of someone's skin, it was the people who got a hold of the flag and flew it on their beliefs and that's one of the leading causes to the conflict on the flags meaning. The confederate flag is 154 years
As Winston Churchill stated, “The flags of the Confederate States of America were very important and a matter of great pride to those citizens living in the confederacy. They are also a matter of great pride for their descendants as part of their heritage and history,” but in present day, the American people are claiming the meaning of the confederate flag is hate and discrimination. In South Carolina, the confederate flag was taken down and placed in a museum after a heated debate stemming from a mass shooting of nine black churchgoers in a historical Charleston church during bible study. The shooter, Dylann Roof, was a white supremacist. A photograph of Roof emerged showing him holding a confederate flag which fueled the political flag debate. The confederate flag is at the center of the controversy over racism. Although, it was first created as an official flag of confederacy, the confederate flag has changed into what is now either a symbol of Southern heritage and pride or slavery and racism by Americans. It is time to put this flag in a museum to be honored by those it means something to and no longer stand as a reminder of the division our country once suffered, so we can move on as a nation, united.
Picture if you were treated differently by a flag that was flown, this can happen in our country at anytime. The confederate flag was flown as a symbol for the southern states in the civil war for keeping their culture which included slavery. The confederate flag should not be flown because it is offensive, symbol of hate, and racist.
Flags are familiar symbols and popular with all ages. A flags definition is usually rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or as a decoration. (Alle, pg. 127) Most people today consider the Confederate Flag to be racist but others just see it as a way to say they are proud to be from the South. Have people actually researched what they are saying or are they throwing out what they have heard others say? What does the confederate flag really mean and why do people think it has to do with racism? I want to inform people of the history of the Confederate flag, the real meaning behind it and that it is not racist. It is a national flag and no matter what
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
Looking at the issue from both angles I can see how some people argue for the flag. Being that I am African American, I’m already bias against the Confederate flag, but I can see the appeal of someone wanting to preserve their heritage. I would offended if someone came up to me and said I couldn’t have a flag of African origin or a Jamaican flag. Those places represent my ancestors and is a way for me to show the pride I have for where I come from. Does that mean I think I deserve the right to have it flying on the top of the capitol, no. The Confederate flag only represents one thing to most people, including myself, and that is slavery. I can understand you wanting a symbol that stands pride and honor, but the Confederate flag doesn’t stand for that in my opinion. I think the Confederate flag stands for the previous and longstanding systematic oppression of African Americans through the institution of slavery. There is no way to sugarcoat the meaning behind the flag. The flag was used as a symbol for a group of states that left the United States of America to form their own country, What was the main reason behind this? None other than to
The flag is a symbol of pride and patriotism. “The flag is not racist. It is a symbol of patriots who were willing to die to protect this country and make sure it remained as the founders intended,” (Is the confederate flag racist?, 1). This exemplifies that the flag is not a racist symbol, it is a symbol of patriotism. The Confederate flag is not a racist
The beginning of Confederate flag controversy started due to the request of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to remove the flag off the South Carolina statehouse. This request, based on the fact that the anti-flag groups, claim that the meaning of the Confederate flag as one of hateful and discriminatory views. On the other hand, there are other groups that believe differently which considered themselves pro-flag groups. They claim that the flag holds a sign of history of heritage and should stay on the statehouse. The Confederate Flag 's banning is not necessary nor appropriate. Its meaning can not hold a misinterpretation as what it used to fly over, that being the confederate flag. The confederate flag represented the confederacy just as any flag of any country would represent any other group or country, state, club, etc.
Although the confederate flag was not originally created to be a hate symbol, it became one over the years. If there is any symbol or material item that offends a certain ethnic group, it can, and will most likely, be labeled as a racist insignia. When something goes as far as offending and restricting the rights of men and their equality, then it is racist and should not be tolerated to fly above a man’s home or dwelling. If an item such as the confederate flag plays such a significant role in history, it should be remembered in a museum. By putting it into a museum, it will be respected, not forgotten, and the people whose lives had been affected by the Confederate Flag are not in any situations where they feel scared, at risk of harm, inadequate or unequal; the people shall not be persecuted or feel as though they are being persecuted. The Confederate Flag should not fly amongst the people any longer. The past is the past.
Recently there has been a big debate over the nation for the flying confederate flag.Is the confederate flag a true symbol of “Heritage or Hate”? 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. The confederate flag has been known and flown for many battles over the past century and a half, which was ever since thebeginning 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?
First let’s get to know some history about the flag. The Confederate flag that everyone knows today isn’t actually the Confederate national flag. It’s the flag of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. (1) The final national flag was a white flag with the Confederate Army of Tennessee flag in the upper left corner and a red end or tail. This was the third national flag as it seemed to change almost every year. (1) There were many blacks, up to thousands, that served in the Confederacy. (3) Some say they were slaves that were forced to fight, some say they were free men fighting for the Confederacy and their southern homes. How
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 use of the flag by groups with white supremacist inclinations showcases the racial symbolism behind it. In 1948, the Southern Democratic party, commonly known as the “Dixiecrats,” adopted the confederate flag as their own (history.net). The group was a compilation of former Confederate states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The political platform of the Dixiecrats was to fight for state's rights, but more importantly to promote segregation. Their slogan was “Segregation Forever.” Segregation in itself is a racist, demeaning, and condescending concept that this party clung to so dearly. In the midst of the Democratic National Party in 1948 the group waved the Confederate flag to represent themselves. The flag represented what this party stood for, and is therefore inherently racist. But the Dixiecrats were not the only group to claim the Confederate flag. One of the most infamous white supremacist groups to ever exist, the Klu Klux Klan, started to use the Confederate Flag as well. Although the group was founded by Confederate veterans in the late 19th century and used the flag, the reuse and recirculation of the flag among Klan members did not start again until the 1960’s and 1970’s (Richardson and Martinez, 116). This correlated exactly when the Civil Rights movement began taking off. Already the symbolism of the flag had been thwarted within thirty years from the Dixiecrats to the KKK to mean and hold the connotations of segregation,