Racial Inequality In A Confederate Monument Of General Bedford Forrest

Imagine walking through a town plaza and suddenly spotting a bust depicting Adolf Hitler, or a statue of a Nazi Swastika. A passerby may stare in horror upon its recognition, and wonder why a symbol of such hatred and violence is displayed prominently in a town. These statues would incite an uproar and immediate demands to remove such offensive monuments. Thankfully, such a situation would never arise in modern America; however, a similar plight is unfolding across the country concerning the removal of Confederate statues. Confederate statues should not be displayed in public areas because they are reminders of a time when racial violence went unpunished, they are honoring people who wanted to keep other

No matter what a person’s race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation is, everyone should enjoy equality. In the speech Speech Upon the Removal of Confederate Monuments by Mitch Landrieu, the Mayor of New Orleans, the removal of the Confederate monuments in New Orleans is discussed. The speech emphasises the fact that the Confederacy was wrong pertaining to their treatment of African Americans, and instead of teaching history, the Confederate monuments convey an image of inequality and violence. Mitch Landrieu argues for the deconstruction of historic Confederate monuments through his allusions to past historic events to contrast the modern shift of equality, so he can call the people to action to deconstruct the monuments. Through the

“‘A great nation does not hide its history, it faces its flaws and corrects them.”’ George W. Bush spoke these words at the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Nelson). He said this in hopes of keeping monuments reflecting slavery and segregation standing so people today could learn from mistakes in the past. Most monuments dealing with the topic of slavery are Confederate monuments, but they are causing controversy over their true meaning. Some people believe Confederate monuments are about southern pride, but many think they are symbols of racism (Ingraham). The debate over these monuments has caused violent protests like in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a Robert E. Lee statue was removed. Although Confederate monuments anger many people because of the history behind them, they provide lessons that can be taught to help end racism and make a better country. Confederate monuments and statues need to stay to preserve the history of the United States so it is not repeated, but the meaning to them should be altered to show segregation is immoral.

Confederate statues depict anti-abolitionists as heroes and very honorable men, therefore they should be removed. These men who are depicted as heroes fought for the institution of slavery. These statues not only glorify anti-abolitionists but they remind people of the strong racism of the time. Many people fight for the removal of these statues for the sole reason that they “serve as constant reminders of institutional racism, segregation and

Thesis: As the debate continues on whether or not we should keep confederate monuments and symbols displayed publicly, it is important that we recognize both the benefits and downfalls of removing these symbols.

From Trajan’s Column, completed in 113 AD, to the statue of Christopher Columbus in Easton, Pennsylvania, monuments and memorials have been a significant element of celebration and honor throughout history (Source B). Though monuments are typically meant as a symbol of honor, recent controversy over statues dedicated to Confederate leaders and generals has sparked the debate over how to choose subjects to memorialize, and the actual development of these memorials. When considering what or who to honor, one must also consider the subjects impact on history, ensuring that it is positive. In creating memorials and monuments, groups and agencies should examine the historical significance of the events or persons they wish to memorialize, and the

The removal of Confederate monuments has been a controversial topic over the past few years. Many want to tear them down, others want to keep them up and some want them to be moved to museums. Although controversial, many still do not know why exactly people want these statues to tear down or be kept up. After reading and analyzing both Michele Bogart’s and The Guardian’s view on Confederate statues, I would say that Michele Bogart’s “In Defense of ‘Racist’ Monuments” article was the most persuasive. Right off the bat, Michele Bogart starts off with how the rise of white nationalism is causing officials around the country to remove memorials of Confederate soldiers, military leaders, and symbols of “the Lost Cause”. Bogart clearly states that not all civic statues represent white supremacy or racism, but that they are “the culmination of complex social and artistic engagement at the community level” (Bogart). She further explains how eliminating these statues is not going to help solve the problem of racism in the United States. Her purpose in this essay is to persuade the reader that civic monuments should be kept up as pieces of art, not as “symbols of hate”.

After the violence and attacks in Charlottesville, a debate is raging on whether or not to take down Robert E Lee and other confederate monuments or to leave them up. Those for taking down the confederate monuments argue that the monuments are equated with the slavery era and should therefore come down. Those on the other side say that the monuments represent southern pride and that they should stay up. The debate says is why not take down all monuments that supported slavery according to Washington and Jefferson. Taking down the confederate monuments is important today to prevent violensce from occurring from both the white nationalist leaders, such as the KKK and Nazi groups that are left, as well as the counter protesters.

A recent hot-button subject in the media has been what to do with Confederate monuments in the South. After the removal of a statue honoring Robert E. Lee, a general in the Confederate Army considered by many to be a hero for the part he played in the American Civil War, a clear divide has formed over whether it was the right thing to do. Some agree with this choice, calling the statues remnants from a time of racial oppression in the United States. Others are outraged, considering it desecration of their proud history. Still others don't understand either side of the issue, and see it as a pointless feud. It is imperative to understand that to many people, these are more than just statues. Whether their impression is positive or negative, this issue goes beyond physical monuments.

51 years after the ending of the Civil War, you’d think that conflicts regarding Confederacy would be over. However, Confederacy issues just continue to get worse. Many Americans still believe and honor Confederate ethics. While many Americans strongly oppose the Confederacy. They believe that the Confederacy is responsible for destroying families, taking lives, and causing the bloodiest war in American history. Those Americans feel like we shouldn’t honor Confederacy and don’t want monuments or statues representing Confederacy here. Especially after hate crimes like the attack on an predominant African American church in South Carolina. It’s easy to understand why these people feel this way, as slavery and discrimination shouldn’t be represented on the “Land

The Confederate States of America, also known as the confederacy was a group of 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union in 1860. The desire to preserve the institution of slavery was motivation for secession and primary cause of the American Civil War. A confederate statue was often put in place of honor Confederate leaders, soldiers or states. Statues started to appear in 1900, as the states enacted Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise African Americans and segregated society. Statues also came up between the 1950s and 1960s as a backlash against the civil rights movement. The removal of statues would result in debt and a burden to taxpayers. As of today, there are about 1,503 Confederate symbols across the country. This ranges from schools,

“Why We Should Keep the Confederate Monuments Right Where They Are” by John Daniel Davidson contains many assumptions throughout his work. One of the first assumptions made in the article is that all readers hold the value that racism is a negative. This concept may apply to many individuals, but the presence of white supremacy still exists in modern day society. Another assumption is made that people view monuments as a source of honor to a bunch of racists who fought to preserve slavery. As discovered in the prescribed reading, I found that some audiences view statues as a reminder to not repeat past mistakes and to reflect on historical events rather than an honorary element celebrating racist generals.

People are not going overboard when they take down Confederate statues and begin attacking names associated with the Confederacy. This is a time in history that should not be on public display. “Innocent words (and Names) Are Under Attack,” is an article that discusses this issue, but unfortunately, does not persuade the reader that society has gone overboard in the act of becoming more politically correct.

In the “Speech Upon the removal of Confederate Monuments”, The Speaker, Mitch Landrieu, contrasts a dark past with the hope of a light future, arguing that in order to move on from the past, confederate symbols need to be taken off pedestals. Landrieu professes that to unite as a country, to teach the generations of the future, and to learn from the past’s mistakes, the confederate monuments should be removed. Through rhetorical devices, the speaker argues his values.

To receive a statue in your name and have it placed in an area meant for recognition is an honor, this is given for the highest respect and privilege to those who impacted the society positively and fought for a change. The social and racial equality in America has progressed since the Civil War and the space for bigotry and acrimony for other ethnicities is limited, the society now embraces a broader meaning of diversity and equivalence with gender, sexuality, and ethnicity. In spite of that, a man who believed and fought for the entitlement of slaves was honored with a statue of his own, infamously named the Robert E. Lee statue. How can we let a representation of racial inequality and discrimination