The issue of the confederate flag has been an important cultural discussion point for some years now, but has recently taken on even greater importance in light of recent hate crimes in South Carolina, as well as rampant police brutality and shootings across the country. Much of the discussion has been an argument between the two schools of thought being that either the flag is a symbol of cultural heritage and nothing more, and the other being that it is a symbol of systematic and violent racism that has no right being in a place of honor and reverence in today’s society. In a way both schools are correct. The Confederate flag is a symbol of southern cultural history; it also happens that that history is a history of systematic and violent racism, starting from the flag’s creation and on to its popular resurgence in the south at the time of desegregation and the civil-rights movement.
The iconic design of the Stars and Stripes on the American flag has been a symbol of hope to every citizen in America since its making. Every time an American citizen sees these stars and stripes, they are reminded of their safe home in the United States of America. Every time a soldier sees the flag, they are reminded of what they are fighting for. They are fighting for the freedom that every citizen in the United States takes for granted, yet they still bravely fight for that freedom. As children, we were taught that Betsy Ross was the woman to thank for the flag that we see today. Betsy Ross was a seamstress for a living and she was not nationally known until George Washington himself came to her and asked her to make the first flag. At
I do not think the Confederate Flag represents a symbol of hate because it is part of the History of this great nation. This is only my personal opinion. However, this opinion could change by the end of my research. Nonetheless, it is a controversial topic. To understand a little more about this topic, I asked a few individuals in order to consider more opinions. I have, also, done an extensive research for this paper, and I found some discrepancies. For example, I asked two African Americans, and according to their opinion, the Confederate Flag is not a symbol of hate. Instead, African American see this flag as an important element of the history. Therefore, they believe that the history of the Confederate Flag should be include in the schools. However, I ask a third individual, and he/she believes that this
Should the Confederate flag be banned on public property? The Confederate flag is one of the greatest controversial, provocative icons of American culture, and even has a significant presence out of the country. There is proof to suggest that just observing the Confederate flag makes a person act fairly more racist.
The controversy issues over the confederate flag has arose quickly in the last couple of years. In this picture there is an African American clinching the Confederate Flag. Over many years the question still remains the same. Does the so called, “Confederate Flag” stand for southern pride? Or, does it stand for segregation and racism as this picture seems portrays?
Our nation has exaggerated the fear of a piece of history for far too long and now it is the time to put forth some truth. The confederate flag has been a part of heritage since 1861 and has been to this day. People today see it as a flag of hatred, which is interesting because this did not start happening until now. There have been people who have shot and killed others because they said their intentions were based from the confederate flag, which is a material item that cannot make anyone do anything that they do not want to do unless they had their own cause. This flag is not built on a racist appeal it was to show that the southern side will take up for their selves when the northern side wanted an industrialized world. Our people have
Next, the confederate flag should not be flown on government property, because it has conflicted history. The confederate army changed the flag 4 times during the war, so the flag flown today is not the original flag. That is not very traditional. The second confederate flag had a large white stripe that went halfway down the middle, which represented white supremacy. The rebel flag still represents white supremacy and racism, because it was the final battle flag used in the southern states’ fight to keep slavery. Today’s generation of the south that is racist is mostly the older generation. The younger generation is coming around and has a good set of mind about race. However the older generation and some young people in the south are the
Is the existence of confederate flag in the campus influence how people think and act? The correct answer is no. The confederate flag has nothing to do with the neither mental capacity nor thought process of individuals. Its existence in the campus is never a distraction to any learning process. The confederate flag is not the minimum measure used by the University to determine, who enrolls and does not enroll. The quality of education remains, and so does the freedom of everybody else, regardless of the color of his or her skin. Based on these truths, I therefore, argue that the confederate flag should remain on campus because it is not a mode intimidation or tool of threat to anyone. Scholars come to Mississippi University from all sets of background and they all find a home in the campus and fulfill their academic objectives of accessing quality education not to watching a confederate flag hanging in the campus.
The confederate flag is immediately recognizable in the back window of a pickup truck or portrayed on the t-shirt for Lynrd Skynrd and Credence Clearwater, but has come under stark criticism. The argument is a multi-faceted assault, by, both restricting first amendment rights of free speech, restricting a symbol of southern heritage, and a person’s right not to feel threatened by an assumed racist epithet. It is a simple piece of fabric, the red and blue Southern Cross, which divides a nation much as it did 150 years ago when it symbolized the fight against oppressive laws. Many believe that the Confederate Flag is representative of the patriots who were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the nation and individual rights the founding fathers envisioned, however today, liberals and minorities have made the claim, the confederate flag is racist rather than a simple symbol of southern pride.
The ongoing controversy of the Confederate flag began again on June 17th, as Dylann Roof entered an African American church in Charleston, South Carolina, and shot and killed nine people including the church 's pastor. After the shooting, pictures were taken of Roof holding up the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism and white supremacy. The act drove our nation into outrage as racially offended people called for the removal of the flag. A month later, South Carolina 's Capitol grounds removed the battle flag and sent it to a military museum down the road. Hundreds came to the monument to witness the flag-lowering. The crowd was filled with both supporters and those who opposed this act.
The Confederate flag was a significant item throughout history, but what it was significant for varies from person to person. To some the Confederate flag represents Southern heritage while to others it signifies racism. Either opinion could be considered true, but evidence shows that it is viewed more as a symbol of racism. From one stand point the Confederate flag was the battle flag for the Southern states during the Civil War, which was virtually over slavery, but the battle flag was a symbol that was changed multiple times throughout the war. In addition, the Confederate flag was also the symbol for multiple groups that supported racism. Although the Confederate flag is a symbol of Southern heritage it is also a symbol of racism.
The Confederate Flag has been around for hundreds of years. It has harmed nobody, but it has sparked a debate that has almost divided the country in half over its true meaning. The Confederate Flag was introduced in 1861 as part of the civil war. The flag represented 11 southern states that seceded from the union. The country in which it represented was the Confederate States of America. Now, some of the states in which the flag represented, have designed their state flags off of the original Confederate Flag. The Confederate Flag should be allowed to be flown because it does not represent racism, it is a southern belief, and it violates the first amendment.
There is a lot of attention and opinion surrounding what we know now as the Confederate flag. Until recently the outcry of support and opposition to the flag has always been there with events bringing it back to the forefront. After the horrific events at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17th, 2015 the support and opposition surrounding the flag reemerged. The argument again became main stream on whether the confederate flag represents racism or heritage. During a recent survey conducted by CNN showed that of the people polled, fifty seven percent agreed that the flag represented pride and heritage while thirty three percent agreed that it represented racism. The disagreement over what the flag stands for is part of the issue. The flag does represent southern heritage and pride, but part of that rooted in racism and hatred towards African Americans and other non-whites. The flag is a great part of our American history and therefore should not be written off and forgotten. It should be taught, discussed and shown to all in classrooms and museums, but should not be
In Chuck Baldwin article about "The Confederate Flag Needs To Be Raised, Not Lowered" (2015), he claims that the flag should stay up because the confederate flag is not is not all about slavery and racism Baldwin supports his claim by importing details about the historic meaning of the flag. His purpose is to give the reader and understanding of witch it true and what is false.
Peter Holley from The Washington Post, wrote an article about an African American who is standing up and fighting for what she believes the true meaning of the Confederate battle flag stands for. Holley provides quotes stated from the woman in a number of interviews from other sources. In addition, Holley includes other citizen interviews as well as their personal opinion on the Confederate flag.