Media
around the states have been constantly debating over the Confederate flag and
if it should be taken down, and if it is a hate symbol? I have taken the time
to do some research and managed to learn some new things. My research also led
me to a new question that maybe only a few know the answer to.
I
grew up never knowing what this symbol meant and rarely saw it. The only time I
remembered it was from the Dukes of Hazard show, it was painted on the top of
their car. With that being said I have no biased opinion in this matter and
will only use the information I research and try and view it from different
perspectives.
My
search for information lead me first to an article written on CNN's website.
Now I'm skeptical when it comes to media sources but the article titled,
“Confederate battle flag: separating the myths from the facts” (www.cnn.com)
drew my interest and left me with even more questions than before. Then began
my history lesson.
My next stop was the website of
Encyclopedia Britannica and the article titled, “Flag of the Confederate states
of America”. (www.britannica.com/). Here
I found that during the Civil War in 1861 through 1865, the Confederate states
adopted a national flag on March 5, 1861. This flag was called “stars and bars”
and had two red and one white horizontal stripes with seven white stars on a
blue background in the left corner which the stars equal the amount of states
that seceded and as more states seceded more stars were added.
This
flag posed a problem because it looked too similar to the unions flag. In
November 1861 the second national flag was created and featured a square
variation of what we call the Confederate battle flag or the Southern Cross
today, on a white rectangle background and was called the “stainless banner”.
This flag was made official on May 1, 1861.
This
too posed a problem because on a day that was not windy it resembled a flag of
surrender. On March 4, 1865 a vertical red stripe was added to the white
background of the “stainless banner” design of 1863.
This
research still left me wondering how did the variation we see today come about?
Then the thought hit me about the Dukes of Hazard, it was displayed on their car,
which was called the General Lee. CNN’s article states that certain units of
the Confederate Army flew the variation we see today and the most famous was
Gen. Robert E Lee’s unit of Northern Virginia. Though the variation we see
today was never official some units, of the Confederate Army, used it.
CNN
goes on to state that it didn't become famous until 1948 during James Strom
Thurmond’s presidential run. This information took me back to Encyclopedia
Britannica's article on Strom Thurmond (www.britannica.com/)
who turns out to be a segregation advocate and of the Democratic Party, but
later left the Democratic Party to be a reelected as a Republican US Sen. in
1964 until 2003. CNN states that during his presidential election in 1948 his
supporters called the “States Rights Democratic Party”, also known as the
“Dixicrats” and his fans greeted him with Confederate battle flags. Also stated
is the Dixicrats’ purpose, which was support of segregation of races, in
article 4 of its platform. (www.cnn.com)
After his death it was discovered that he fathered a child by an
African-American woman who was 16 years old and he was 22.
This
information attracts the question, does this flag represents segregation?
Whether it was coincidence or own purpose, as desegregation advanced the flag
became more and more popular with the states.
My
next question was who designed the first flag to carry this symbol known as the
Southern Cross, which appeared on the second official flag of the confederacy
known as the stainless banner? My research led me to William Tappan Thompson
who cofounded the Savannah Morning News in the 1850s. Thompson was a supporter
of the Democrats and was against the granting of civil rights to
African-Americans. He also was a supporter of the confederacy during the Civil
War and helped design the second national flag that contains a variation of the
battle flag says Wikipedia. (Wikipedia.org/)
“As
a people we are fighting to maintain the heaven-ordained supremacy of the white
man over the inferior or colored race; a white flag would thus be emblematical
of our cause. - Thompson, William T.
(April 23, 1863) “Daily Morning News. Savannah, Georgia.
“… as a national emblem, It is
significant of our higher cause, the cause of a superior race… - Thompson, William T. (May 1863) “Daily
Morning News. Savannah, Georgia.
The
statements made by Thompson plainly show the flag’s purpose of creation and
what it means is white supremacy. But somehow I felt that wasn't enough and
furthered my research. Let's go back to the Civil War and view some of the
states that wanted secession and why. To figure this out we need to view those
states’ Declaration of Secession. I checked out Civil War trust at (CivilWar.org)
and first shown was Georgia who states slavery as a cause, but Mississippi
states it as their main cause in the first sentence.
“Our
position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the
greatest material of interest of the world.”
- Mississippi Declaration of Secession.
South
Carolina’s secession states, “but an increasing hostility on the part of the
non-slaveholding states to the institution of slavery, has led to a disregard
of their obligations… adopted December
24, 1860.
Texas’ secession also focused on
the protection of slavery
My
research has led me to the conclusion that firstly this flag known as the
Southern Cross whom the masses are arguing and fighting over was never really
official or a national flag. Also its meaning upon creation was to push a white
supremacist agenda. Most of the people, who adopted it, show it as a symbol of
hatred, segregation, and racism. The Confederate states declaration of
secessions show that one of their main purposes was to keep the African
American race in bondage as slaves.
You argue that it is heritage or
tradition and my conclusion is yes it is, of violence and hate. It has a long
history of violence, hate, and inequality. Also this flag represents treason
against the United States of America being it represents a separation from the
union.
So, my opinion of should it stay
or should it go? Yes! Take it down. It is very offensive and represents hate
and treason, not to mention a lost war. Should it be in museums or similar
places? That is the perfect place for it, because it is history but make sure
you tell the story right. Also should people be allowed to have them on their personal property? Yes, they have the freedom to express their beliefs. If we allow others to express their true feelings we then know their true selves and know if we should be associated with them or not.
I also end this with stating,
that taking it down will not fix the problem in America. The problem in America
is much bigger than this piece of fabric. I also believe this will open the
eyes of many Americans to see we have a major problem and that hatred and racism
must be addressed. The systematic Racism is what needs to be taken down.
Resources
