Because racism was at the core of the Charleston church shootings last week, the debate about the “Confederate flag” on the South Carolina Capitol grounds is back in the news.
As a southerner the flag controversy matters to me, but I can say unequivocally that the flag doesn’t. It holds no meaning for me whatsoever.
In fact, I have never met nor known any southerner for whom the Confederate flag has any meaning.
I grew up only a few miles from the Mclean House at old Appomattox Court House where Lee surrendered to Grant. My great great grandfather fought in Lee’s army.
My mother was raised in Appomattox where we used to gather for family reunions, and I remember many times a bunch of us driving over to what we called “the surrendering grounds” to visit the Mclean House (we didn’t romanticize the place) .
Never once do I remember seeing somebody in my Mother’s family displaying the Confederate flag or arguing that it should be flown above the state capitol in Richmond. It could have happened, but I have no memory of it or recall it being something significant if it did.
So my take on this controversy is that it is all about what I call the tyranny of the minority.
That minority is composed of racist southerners who claim the Confederate flag is a symbol of their heritage when in truth it is nothing more than their way of saying they still believe in white supremacy and the days of slavery and segregation.
The truth is, the so-called “Confederate flag” has never been a symbol of southern heritage. The only reason it is still around is because it was pulled out of a closet somewhere and used by the old Dixiecrat Party as its symbol when it broke away from the Democratic Party in 1948 led by racist Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, of all places. Later members of the Ku Klux Klan started using it for their symbol.
Nor did the Confederate flag ever have any official status during the Civil War itself. It was one among several flags used by soldiers as they went into battle.
If it is a symbol of southern heritage, then it stands for humiliating defeat because that is what happened to the southern army. Let’s not forget that the Confederacy did lose the war.
Sadly this tyranny of the minority now controls many southern state legislatures, including the one in South Carolina. It is possible that they represent the majority of South Carolina voters, but I doubt it. My guess is most voters don’t care one way or the other whether the flag is flown on Capitol grounds or not.
In that regard, though, they are tacitly supporting racism because the Civil War was fought for the sole reason to protect and perpetuate the institution of slavery. Every time that flag is flown it is a reminder of that awful, ugly period in southern history.
I truly believe only a minority of southerners who are still racists take pride in that kind of heritage.
The rest of us see the Confederate flag for what it actually is, a symbol of shame rather than pride.
To take it down and put it away forever would be a great favor to every southerner who is honest enough to admit our heritage is a mixed bag of good and evil, and there is nothing we can do about it except to stand for the good in our own time.
Taking down the Confederate flag is one simple way to show we do.
linnposts.com 
It’s great to see a true southerner’s perspective on this topic. As a yankee, I have very little sway in the discussion, I can only offer opinion. Thank you for being a voice of reason and insight in this national discussion. …oh, and I certainly agree, take down the “Confederate Flag!”
As a fellow white southerner, I share every aspect of Jan’s views on this matter. If nothing else, taking the flag down in South Carolina would send a positive message to blacks in that state who have just endured a horrific massacre in a church in Charleston — and who have demonstrated remarkable forgiveness and have reached out to all citizens for racial harmony.
Great essay, Jan. You are so right; the Confederate flag means nothing to anyone except racists.
Taking down the Confederate flag is decades over due.
Lets take down the Confederate flag because nothing good can come from it. I remember from history classes that in Germany all Nazi flags, any statues, and symbols were taken down, destroyed and no longer allowed in public.
The idea that any object should be removed because of the feelings of hurt or injustice, past or present, real or imagined, is one that has some merit. As long as this is the only perspective that the situation is viewed from that is. But is it really the only way to look at things? Are we too quick to want to act before seeing things from a different or wider lens?
Consider that if something, anything, is seen as a symbol of shame, then would it not evoke feelings of shame within those who see it? What effect will these feelings of shame then have upon the person? I don’t think embracement of the very things evoking the feelings of shame would be the result. If it elicited anything, it would be something to improve or correct the “wrong”, if this wrong or the after-effects from it were still seen to exist, or at least not make it any worse. This discussion is evidence of that point. But what if instead, the symbol is simply removed? Will the same improvement and correction happen? Perhaps, but probably only if that person is still remembering the symbol or has a separate reminder or motivation to continue the work towards justice. However, that’s usually a bit much to ask of human nature, especially as the time continues to go by without the shameful symbol being present. We’re more likely to just go about our own business. The symbol is removed and with it the shame. The urge to improve or correct the situation is lessened or removed altogether as well.
Is that the effect we are really going for? Is that what will most help those in need? Remove the symbol of hurt for the past and/or present oppressed while simultaneously removing the shame from those who might then be more often reminded and motivated to bring justice? (not to mention currently being in the strongest position to do something about the situation) Yes, those who don’t feel the shame and see it as a rallying cry for hate would still get to see it too, but is removing the symbol going to do one bit towards changing their feelings? This has now provided a new question and perspective to consider.
Will removing the symbol be better served towards changing the minds of the hateful and removing the hurt of the oppressed at the expense of lessening the fight towards justice of the shameful OR should the symbol be maintained and used in a way not originally intended by serving to remind the shameful and helping to keep them diligent in the efforts towards justice, but at the expense of the oppressed seeing a symbol of hurt and the hateful maintaining their rallying cry? Do we cover up the wound at the expense of slower healing? It’s quite a grotesque wound after all. Maybe this is not our decision to make. Maybe those who bear the wound should decide. I think we all would certainly understand their feelings if they just wanted the symbol removed from sight as quickly as possible, and that could very well be the best decision all around. I just hope they try to see things from as many perspectives as possible to evaluate and pick the option they want. Whatever decision they make I can accept.
I’m calling BS on your strawman, Anthony. Racists do not see the Confederate Battle Flag as symbol of shame. If a few do, great, but I don’t see it happening. The response I see from them is anger. A lot of anger and and white supremacy. Thus, I see your strawman of shame by racists as naive. You are asking to allow racists to decide when and if to take down the Confederate flag. That is like allowing religious terrorists of all stripes to decide when they have won and stop their attacks.
…as I see it.
RollieB,
Thanks for putting together the right response to call-out the rambling nonsense from Anthony. I had no idea where/how to start!
You must misread my words Rollie. I said nothing of the sort for racists feeling shame, nor racists being the decider for if the flag should come down. Next time, try not to jump ahead too quickly and let your emotions overtake you as you mischaracterize my position entirely if you would please. As a quick clarified summary…the racists are the ones who see the flag as a symbol of rallying cry for hate. I would suspect the primary feelers of shame would be non-racist whites who are ashamed of the actions of the racists from the past and present. They are the ones who see the flag and recognize the injustice. They are the ones who might then me moved to not forget and remain vigilant, and also the ones in the strongest position to make amends. Not the racists. And since evidently I need to make all the identified groups clear to you, the ones I named as hurt and oppressed would be African-Americans. They are the ones who wear the wounds. In my opinion, they might be the ones to best decide if the flag should come down or if instead it should remain up to remind those of privilege and shame of the harm inflicted by racists and what more needs to be done to promote and establish justice. They might be the ones who essentially would be saying, “No, you do not get to take down that flag to end your shame and have you even forget just what you did to us. We will decide when enough progress has been made for you to even deserve to have your shame taken away.”
When we remove shame from those who have yet to make amends, what incentive is there to make amends? Getting rid of the scarlet letter may be the solution, but maybe not, and maybe we aren’t the ones to decide when it comes off.
Anthony, I don’t for a minute believe that after 150 years “non-racists whites” need more time to consider the rightness or wrongness of oppression. And, any thought that the oppressed want to continue with the status quo is abhorrent, as I see it. Sorry, I’m not buying your logic. I do hope your intentions are honorable, but it’s not evident to me. Call me cynical…
Taking down the Confederate flag and relegating it to a museum is a good idea, that is long, long overdue. Taking down the Confederate flag as a way of dealing with, or in response to, the Charleston shooting is near meaningless. The flag did not kill anyone that day, a gun in the hands of a nut did. So the flag is just a small symptom of the really big problem of gun violence in America. I hope that in addition to taking down the symbol, we will do something meaningful about the big problem. But, based on our recent history, I would not bet on it.