The Confederate Flag: The Symbols Of The Confederate Battle Flag

1601 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of monuments

On June 28, 2015, an activist by the name of Bree Newsome did something unspeakable; she climbed up the flag pole of the South Carolina state house and removed the wretched Confederate Battle flag that has been swaying in the air since 1961. Many saw this as a social media act for attention, but what I saw was a woman who was desperately trying to get the attention of the ones that can make a difference for a situation that truly needed attention. Although many consider the Confederate Battle Flag to be a symbol of southern pride and heritage, it represents the entirety of southern history, much of which involved slavery and should be taken down; not only from the state capital, but anywhere this symbol of racism stands. The history of this flag has been tainted by slavery and groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which have misrepresented what it means and have created acts of not only violence, but racism and hatred as well. Also, the main purpose of the creating …show more content…

It signifies pride and heritage the exact same way that any state flag or national flag such as the Flag of the United States does. Just because white supremacist groups like the Klan have tainted this flag with acts of hatred and racism does not mean that its history lies within those lines. There have been many groups who have wanted to preserve this flag in a positive way like the Sons of Confederate Veterans do. They are a group who fight to preserve the pride and heritage of the Southern Nation. Many of these men are men of color who are taking this hallowed piece of tainted history and are trying desperately to make it whole again. So to blatantly attack this flag with its one dark segment of history and completely disregard the positive aspects of the South is completely absurd. The Confederate Battle flag should remain exactly where it is so that open-minded people can cherish it and feel free to express their heritage at any

Show More
Related

  • Brown versus Board of Education and Raising the Confederate Flag

    1524 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...more overpowering and overwhelming than any general feeling of Southern pride. America has obtained a reputation to be an accepting and open minded country, welcoming all of any race, couture and religion. The Preamble states clearly that America will establish justice and insure domestic tranquility for all. Neither of these entities are accomplished in America as long as the Confederate flag remains raised. Our nation is furthermore divided by racism through a flag that is possibly being used as a degradation tool. This battle with racism has become far too large for American citizens and anything that is viewed as racist in such a manner as the Confederate flag is, should be censored from society, in only a helpful practice. A state flag should be capable of uniting its citizens, instead of dividing them. The Confederate flag should be lowered immediately.

    Read More

  • It's Time to Change the Flag of Mississippi

    698 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although many corporations have contributed large sums of money to campaign for a new Mississippi flag, that would replace the existing 1894 Confederate flag and improve economic and racial relations throughout the state, chances are slim that a change will occur. Many Mississippians are simply not ready for change and few African-Americans are actually pushing for a change. Many Mississippians view the original flag as part of the state’s heritage and do not want to replace it with a new one. However, I believe it is in the best interest of the state of Mississippi to change the flag, not only to ease racial tensions, but also to boost economic conditions.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ambiguity Over The Confederate Flag

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ambiguity Over the Confederate Flag by Frank X Walker tells the story of life in the South during slavery. The narrator, speaks in first person for one part of the poem, while the other half is spoken from an omniescent on-looker. Through both of these perspectives readers are given two separate accounts of what slavery was like during that time. By using the principles of New Criticism readers are able to fully understand the context of the poem. Furthermore, through this technique, readers draw conclusions in response to the text. From this analysis and through close reading it is clear that there is a major tension regarding how whites viewed slavery verses how African American’s viewed slavery.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of The Confederate Racism

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    Confederate Racism The Confederate flag is a famous symbol of the South’s involvement in the American Civil War. The controversy surrounding this flag has received a great bit of media attention considering how deeply affected and offended some people have become. Southerners consider themselves personally affected. A majority of supporters state that banning the Confederate flag strips them of their heritage, referring to the South’s part in the American Civil War.

    Read More

  • Sports Team Names with Native American References

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The Confederate Flag: Controversy and Culture.” David Sarratt American Studies University of Virginia. Web. 22 Feb. 2014

    Read More

  • Southern Pride In Tony Horwitz's Confederates In The Attic

    1690 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout Tony Horwitz’s novel Confederates in the Attic an overarching theme of Southern Pride occurs. Tony gets first-hand experiences of what southern heritage means through a cross-country road trip visiting historic sights and meeting locals. Tony meets people from every walk of life and is open to their stories and historical information. He meets people who have been oppressed and the oppressors themselves. Many people show their pride through commemorating the past, in the south this often means commemorating the Civil War. Pride is coupled with the ways men and women choose to honor the Civil War, and the rift it has caused within racial tensions.

    Read More

  • Myth of the Lost Cause: Why the Confederate Loss Was Not Inevitable

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    For over a century, many writers and historians theorized that the Confederate loss during the Civil War was, in fact, inevitable, and that they were only fighting a losing war against an overwhelming invading force. This idea shows the southern gentleman, in his honor, taking up arms against what was obviously a superior foe in order to preserve their state’s rights, their families, and their homes, with no hope of coming out the victor in the contest. This is a romantic notion of a time forgotten where gentlemen fought a barbaric would-be conquering force in order that their economic tyranny be forced upon the southern gentleman. This can be countered by the fact that they were only looking for a way to soothe their own defeat, that many sought post-war political gain, and that invading the north during the war was a hope to achieve victory.

    Read More

  • Essay On Confederate Statues

    658 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe people should not be able to take down the Confederate statues.We shouldn't be able to take them down because, it’s apart of our country's history, people lost their lives fighting for what they believe and we don’t want to ignore the fact that our country has flaws and we need to own up to it.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Confederate Flag

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Confederate flag was used symbolically during the Civil War. For Southerner’s, the flag represented a source of southern pride as well as a way of remembering the fallen Confederates. As the Civil War proceeded, the meaning of the flag began to change. Currently, the flag is being used as a symbol of racism. Due to this change in meaning, controversy over the flag has been exponentially growing.

    Read More

  • Essay On Confederate Monuments

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    The symbols of the Confederacy are not just about supremacy, but also, inextricably, about class. Confederate monuments and flag signify terrorism. They were raised deliberately to send a solid message to all who strolled in their shadows about who was still in control. The majority of African Americans whose descendants were enslaved. There have been many attempts to relocate monuments, remove flags, rename schools, and change the name of various holidays (“Confederate Remembrance 3”). Confederate monuments should be taken down immediately and placed in museums where citizens who support the monuments and the heritage of what happened a long time ago can view them

    Read More

  • Confederate Monuments Essay

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Confederate Monument stands at an impressive 32-feet in height, topped with a larger-than life figure of a woman, meant to represent the spirit of the South. In her left hand she holds a laurel wreath crown, the ancient symbol for peace. In her right hand she holds a pruning hook on a plow stock, echoing the agricultural heritage of the Southern people. She stands atop four cinerary urns, each engraved with a year. Each year represents the years of the Civil War.

    Read More

  • Confederate Defeat: Battlefield Outcomes, not Low Morale

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most of the narratives written about the Civil War in America state that the fall of the Confederacy was because of their low morale as well as internal divisions. However, The Confederate War by Gary Gallagher makes a counter argument, he gives evidence that the Confederate morale was fairly high throughout the war. Gallagher argues that the defeat came from the battlefield rather than the home front. He believes that Confederate civilians were mostly confident up until Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Gallagher divides the book into four section, Popular Will, Nationalism, Military Strategy, and Defeat, to defend his argument. His thesis argues that, “Contrary to what much recent literature proclaims, defeat in the military sphere, rather than the dissolution behind the lines, brought the collapse of the Confederacy. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox convinced virtually all Confederates that their attempt at nation-making had failed” (11).

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Confederate Monuments

    365 Words  | 1 Pages

    Imagine standing in front of the defaced statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee only to hear two sides of people curse, hurt each other. This situation is too familiar for people who visit Charlottesville, VA, the formerly peaceful town. The controversy between Confederate memorials never ends. Many people argue that Confederate monuments should be taken down because they become the flashpoints of unrest and violence. As far as I am concerned, confederate memorials should remain as these memorials are the legacy of history; history is value-neutral and innocent.

    Read More

  • The Confederate States of America

    2711 Words  | 6 Pages

    A culture is the beliefs and interests of a particular group of people. About 150 years ago, a proud and noble culture was created in the Southern portion of the United States. It was created by Southerners from all walks of life, ranging from the gentry to the "good ol' boys." They loved their culture so much that they created a country. It was a country of blue skies, green hills, beautiful meadows and forests, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality. There were large plantations that grew some of the finest crops in the world. Though this country seemed Utopian, its creation soon instituted the bloodiest war in American history, the War For Southern Independence. The beautiful countryside suddenly became a battlefield. The blue skies turned gray with the smoke of rifles and cannons. The blood of Rebels and Yankees stained the grass as the meadows and forests became overwhelmed with the foul stench of death. Johnny Reb fought hard for what he believed in and what he thought to be right. Though the "boys in gray" lost the greatest battle of their lives, they and their ancestors still hold a special place in their hearts for this short-lived nation. This nation was independent for roughly four years, but the legacy of the Confederate States of America will not be forgotten.

    Read More

  • African American Heritage

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is no more so true than with Confederate Veterans, and the racial and political motivations that have, in some way, lived through the decades. Though the sesquicentennial over the conflict has just recently passed, many issues of contention and struggles over Confederate iconography in the American public still dominate certain realms within the historical discourse. Groups such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans still exist in some meaningful number in modern times, and still fight for what they view is the protection of their heritage. Memory – particularly when it comes to war – is a peculiar thing. The impact of this sort of historical memory seems deepened by the intense personal nature of civil rebellion, and widened by the physical access to so much of the history in lands, documents and artifacts. It is, indeed, a curiously American idea to -- in many places -- honor those who sought to break away from the nation. It is likely that these questions and observations cannot be fully answered by the historical record alone. Much of it, admittedly, is victim to interpretation, and the roles culture, upbringing and regionalism play in the way Americans recognize their heritage. That alone is a concept worth its own study. However, it seems true that Southern heritage cannot ever truly escape the racial and political problems of its past, if it is forthright in its presentation. Gregory P. Downs, writing on the way American’s memory of war is shaped, mentioned this in perfect summary. He wrote, “By severing the war’s conflict from the Reconstruction that followed, it drains meaning from the Civil War and turns it into a family feud, a fight that ended with regional reconciliation. It

    Read More

More about The Confederate Flag: The Symbols Of The Confederate Battle Flag

Open Document