Sorry, Dr. Sheldon Cooper. I fail to find the “fun” with flags. Historical and social significance? Yes. I get that. But fun? Not so much. For some reasons fortunate and others not, as a Mississippian (like many Mississippians) I have had to more carefully examine these aspects of our own state flag recently. For it is the State of Mississippi flag that has caused a lot of controversy lately as it brandishes a symbol which to many represents racial oppression and to others southern “heritage and pride” in its canton; especially since Dylan Roof opened fire on an historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.
I can hear many of you moaning now. This is merely beating a dead horse. It is something that we have discussed ad nauseam and you are now bored with it. Somehow, you have accepted the idea that the Charleston Church Massacre was nothing more than an unfortunate social anomaly and you too are as equally horrified by the events that took place that day, BUT…. It had nothing to do with the Confederate flag. And you stand poised to defend this symbol of your history, pride, and heritage as you feel victimized that it has come under attack lately. You have brazenly told detractors to “read a history book” or reposted other incredible and unverifiable sources either chastising or empowering others to “know your history”. You have used your Christian faith to support your position, regardless of the fact that much of the supporting rhetoric is exactly in line with the doctrines of the Ku Klux Klan. And when it seems reason has failed you, I’ve watched as you’ve reverted back to the argument: It’s just a flag. No biggie.
All of this I have taken into careful consideration. With it I have also taken your advice to educate myself better. For one can only reasonably come to truthful conclusions from a place of humility rather than pride. And I certainly don’t want my own opinions and biases to get in the way. I would much rather be a stepping stone than a stumbling block. So with the data I have collected and processed, I’m going to take a shot and share what I believe to be some very real, concrete, unmoveable truths.
First off, it is important to know what a flag represents. The short synopsis to this is: if it’s “just a flag” that to many is on the level with the Duke Boys and Yosemite Sam, then why fight so voraciously to cling to such trivial representation? Do you really think The Dukes of Hazard accurately displayed life in the south? Stop lying to yourself. Uncle Jesse’s speech about“overcoming prejudice” was fiction. BAD fiction. Southern white people as a whole have never walked in true solidarity with people of color. Quite the opposite. If you are white and southern and have ever been to your own family reunion, Thanksgiving dinner, or Christmas get together, you know this to be true. We all have that one racist uncle, brother-in-law, cousin, etc. that can’t help but speak his/her mind and nobody has the guts to stand up to them because (for the most part) their bold opinions reflect the thoughts of everyone in the room. I know this from experience.
But I haven’t really started talking about the meaning of The Confederate Flag. I’m still talking about flags in general. Anyone with respect to the American Flag knows that it represents our ideals and values as a country. It is a symbol of nostalgia and a reminder of the price tag paid by those who shed their blood to establish and preserve those ideals of freedom, liberty, and equality. We hold Old Glory to high standards of reverence and respect. We do not burn her and we do not let her touch the ground. We refer to her as “her”. So how is it that we think we can separate the confederate flag from the same standard of representation? We can’t. Just like the stars and stripes, it represents a (different) set of ideals and values. So, when you say things like: “The Confederate Flag didn’t walk into that church and kill nine people”, I say: YES. YES IT DID. It absolutely did. Now to the debate of what it actually represents. Moving on:
Let’s cut the crap. Whether we call it The Confederate Flag or The Confederate Battle Flag or the Battle Flag of Virginia, we all know what flag we are talking about. The diversionary semantics are pointless. One thing that is very easy to agree on is if the south would have never seceded, this flag would have never existed. I don’t know how that can be any clearer. I don’t know how to reinforce it anymore. Since southern people like to pride ourselves on our outstanding use of common sense… Does it get any more common than that? Which brings up the next point:
Why did the south secede? Now we are getting into the “Know your history” portion. It would be one thing to quote an actual History Professor such as Kevin Gannon of Grand View University in Des Moines Iowa, or American Sociologist, historian, and author James W. Loewen, or even Mississippi scholars such as Whit Waide or David Sansing. But I’m sure someone would be quick to point out that these are “liberal” scholars who support a “liberal agenda”. Fair enough. I am more than capable to look beyond them and dig deeper for source material. And by source material, I mean the actual Declaration of Causes of Seceding States. This is not revisionist history. These are actual preserved documents. But years before a declaration was made official, the dialogue started. We can look to the speech of Jefferson Davis before the Mississippi Legislature on November 16, 1858 which was inspired by the thought of an abolitionist as President. The entire speech is a defense of the institution of slavery. He defends it on economic and social terms. Without saying as much, he makes the case that slaves are clothed, fed, and cared for properly. He uses poverty in Europe as contrast. It could be said that this is what led to the very popular romanticized belief that slaves were treated fairly and well. Many actually believe that slaves were happy being slaves; Never mind the deplorable conditions that brought them to America to begin with. That brings up the next question:
What exactly was slavery in North America? I don't want to get too bogged down here. Again, this is a response to the "know your history" bunch. Therefore, I will link source material throughout so that others can see from where I have drawn my conclusions. As implied, somehow we as southerners have managed to romanticize what the pre-emancipation south actually looked like. This is not just traditional ideology being passed down from one generation to another. It is a deliberate whitewashing of history. As with anyone who loses a fight, amidst the embarrassment there comes a need to feel justified in our efforts. The bully who gets his ass kicked has to play the victim and find a way to get sympathy back on his side. So it was with confederate states. Oftentimes, a conversation on this subject can turn on a person. If you are not a preservationist, you will find yourself being told that you are misinformed and you should... you guessed it... "know your history". The ideas that confederate soldiers were saintly and that Robert E. Lee worked under divine authority is rooted in revisionist history known as The Lost Cause. This is also supported by notions that slaves were happy and content and that many blacks fought on the side of the confederacy.
Again, we have to turn to empirical historical documentation to better understand the context of this suggestion. It's not too far fetched to believe that blacks served the Confederacy, because someone had to cook for the soldiers, do their laundry, clean their stables, and so on. But I grow ever more skeptical to think that blacks whether slave or free believed in the south's cause enough to actually take up arms and be willing to die. After all, it was Secession Commissioner S.F. Hale of Alabama who referred to blacks as "half-civilized Africans". The notion that blacks were less than human was a widespread sentiment. It is well documented that they did not possess the same rights as the white man. They were considered chattel property. The same penalties (or lack thereof) did not apply to them in cases of murder, abuse, and rape. Slaves were at the complete mercy of their masters. Illiteracy was even used as a control measure. The happy house slave Prissy from Gone With The Wind is a reimagined romanticized MYTH. Slavery in any capacity was, is, and always will be AWFUL. PERIOD.
So why keep fighting? That's the question I ask. Why do Mississippians fight so hard to preserve a symbol of such inequality and hatred? I would rather somebody come straight out and say: "Because I believe non-whites are animals who need to know their place!" I could respect the honesty of such a response (not the response itself). But instead, flag supporters do everything they can to paint their cause with the brush of nobility. That's why words such as "pride" and "heritage" are used. But what I find most egregious is the last ditch effort to prop up this ideology in the name of God. I am frightened for the souls of those who use their faith to defend such a position. It does not serve the purpose of the kingdom of Heaven. This is what it truly means to take God's name in vain. This should alarm us and concern us more than anything else. Even in spite of the American Family Association's suggestion that we yield this symbol to promote Christian brotherhood, many fight. Despite the nation's largest protestant denomination The Southern Baptist Church's condemnation, people fight. Even traditionally conservative leaders such as Speaker of the House Philip Gunn has spoken out about removing the confederate emblem from our state flag prompting many flag supporters to say: "Keep the flag. Change the Speaker." Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker, Delbert Hoseman; All elected Mississippi conservative Republicans have all have said that it's time for a change.
Yet Governor Phil Bryant who seems to prop himself up on the platform of traditional morals and values has failed to use his position of influence to promote such a change. His claim is that Mississippians voted 2 to 1 to keep the existing flag in 2001. Seeing that he is up for re-election very soon, it only makes sense that he is counting on that same 2 to 1 margin to keep him in office. This being in spite of the undeniable preponderance of evidence that the rebel flag or any variation thereof (i.e., Mississippi State Flag) is a symbol of hate, oppression, and division. I could say that it gets real confusing; especially when I am present firsthand at a small public assembly announcing the new Civil Rights museum, and Phil Bryant echoes many of the talking points he knows his audience wants to hear: Racial reconciliation, separating ourselves from a dark past, how far we have come to achieving that goal, and a bright future in continuing to do so. No, it's not confusing at all. It's disappointing. As I stated earlier: I would just rather him be honest. Because in my mind, I absolutely cannot reconcile the two schools of thought. How can we be pro-reconciliation and racial progress and still live in the shadow of our current flag?
In an ironic twist, many Mississippi cities have voted to remove the current flag from all city property. These include Clarksdale, Columbus, Vicksburg, Grenada, Magnolia; all three major University homes: Oxford, Hattiesburg, and Starkville; even the State Capital of Jackson has elected to have it removed. Are supporters now to regard these towns as treasonous? And what should the penalty be for such? Would they dare suggest an hostile takeover a.k.a. "War of State Aggression"? Considering the many facets of Biblical interpretation, it sure brings some perspective to Jesus' words: "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." I believe the flag situation is representative of just that. As a state, we choose to cling to an outdated symbol of separation to our own detriment. Where does the division end? The short answer is it doesn't. But there is an alternative. And that would be to beat our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into pruning hooks. To not rise against each other anymore and to promote peace.
As I've tried to make clear so many times before: If you want to fly your rebel flag from your truck, front porch, or wherever: It makes no difference to me. I would rather know who you are. But over our State Capitol? It does not belong. We have nothing to lose. It's time to move forward. It's time to TAKE IT DOWN.
