Over the last few weeks there has been heated debate regarding the meaning of the Confederate flag. Supporters of the flag argue that the flag is about American history, a symbol of Southern culture and pride to be a Southerner. Critics of the Confederate flag argue that it represents racism, especially the belief that blacks and whites are not equal and should not be treated as such. So, which side is correct?
It seems as though one would only need to review the history of the Confederate flag to determine which side is accurate. While the current Confederate flag is not the one that was used during the civil war, the flag was used as a symbol to maintain racial segregation. One of the earliest records of the current Confederate flag being used was in South Carolina, when Strom Thurmond ran for president in 1948. His purpose for running was to maintain segregation of Blacks and Whites and he used the Confederate flag as the symbol of the Dixiecrat party. Along his campaign stops, his supporters would greet him with the Confederate flag showing support for segregation. The same Confederate flag was also used during the civil rights movement. During many protests, Whites who were against Blacks gaining rights used the flag to illustrate they wanted to maintain segregation.
So, does the Confederate flag represent heritage or racism? I argue that it represents both; using the flag as a symbol to oppose racial desegregation is a sign of racism and hate, but also Southern heritage that causes many to be proud of being a Southerner. While many White Southerners who support the flag would disagree that the flag symbolizes racism, I urge them to critically examine the history of the Confederate flag to understand how it is racist with hopes that their perspective will change.
