How do African Americans Feel About the Confederate Flag?
The government should ban the Confederate flag because it reminds African-Americans of the pain and suffering during enslavement. African Americans take offense to the Confederate flag because it represents white supremacy and discrimination. Many advocates may argue that it represents white independence and smaller government. However, if the Confederate flag is viewed as a sign of racism it should be banned due to the fact that the world is trying to refrain from discrimination based on color and religion.The Confederate flag can cause unnecessary violence, promotion of racism, and promotion of the violation of human rights. African Americans should be able to be and feel free just like any other race because everyone is entitled to equal opportunities. Therefore, the Confederate flag should be banned.
The Confederate flag should not be able to be displayed freely because of how controversial its meaning is. Due to people being able to display the Confederate flag as they wish it may cause an uproar chaos among people. Zissou Rebecca the author of the article “Heritage or hate: the battle over the Confederate flag: should it be banned at school?” insists that the Confederate flag is a danger to society. Zissou states, “After months of seeing Jacob Green pull up to Millennium High School in Arizona with a Confederate flag hanging from his pickup truck, a classmate spoke up. The offended student confronted Jacob at school, and they got into a fight over the rebel flag” (15). This indicates that the Confederate flag does bring harm to society. School is a place where students should feel safe and if a flag is jeopardizing that it should be removed. On the other hand, many advocates argue that the Confederate flag doesn’t cause harm to anyone; it is just a simple statement representing independence. Zissou states, ”[Southerners] were fighting for … their right to be independent and not have the government control them” (ibid.). This indicates that the Confederate flag was and still is a sign of freedom for those that agree with the Confederate flag. However, the only reason confederate flag supporters wanted to have less government was to keep African Americans enslaved and oppressed. The Confederate flag does not represent something great; it represents violation of human rights. Therefore, the Confederate flag should be banned and not displayed in public.
The Confederate flag is used as a symbol of hatred and inequality towards African Americans. Some Confederate flag supporters still try to inflict violence on African Americans so many years after slavery ended. Komandori S. Murty and Ashwin G. Vyas, the authors of “African American Students Reaction to the Confederate Flag: social psychological Approach to Integrate Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome 1 and Microaggression Theory” claim that the Confederate flag should be banned. Murty and Vyas claim “ a 21-year old white man, Dylann Roof, single handedly gunned down nine innocent African Americans aged from 26 to 87 years… Two days later, Roof confessed to the crime and told the law enforcement authorities that he wanted to start a race war. Shortly thereafter the newspapers and televisions reported that a website was apparently published by Roof, which contained his explanation for the attack, his photos posing at slave plantations and Confederate landmarks” (134). This indicates that there’s still hatred in the world and allowing people to display the Confederate flag is normalizing people’s attempts to harm others mentally and physically.
Although many advocates may argue that everyone doesn’t find the confederate flag offensive and that it is unfair to the people that want the flag to be allowed. Murty and Vyas states”As the descendant of several brave Americans who fought for the Confederacy, I have not viewed Mississippi’s current state flag as offensive”(Murty and Vyas). This indicates that not everyone of African American descent feel the confederate is a threat or a burden. However, the considerations of other people should be put into play if the people that want or don’t really mind the Confederate flag believe that it causes no harm or represent nothing extremely inappropriate they shouldn’t mind it being taken down. Therefore, the government should ban the confederate flag.
Any sign of racism or hatred should not be condoned by the government or anyone for that matter. If the government is not willing to protect their people and citizens as their oath implies then the controversial topic of the confederate flag goes way deeper than just acts of hatred it is now the lack of human rights. Fullwood, Reggie the author of “ The Confederate Flag a Symbol of Racism in America – SC Take it Down” believes that the government condones the act of hatred. Fullwood states” I’m sorry folks – racism and hatred is racism and hatred; and when a state or local government allows symbols of racism to hang over public buildings, it sends the message that those views are being condoned. This indicates that the government is not providing equal opportunities for all people.
However, many people will argue that the confederate flag is kind representation of being proud of where you came from. Fullwood states, “Those who fly the flag or wear it on a hat or bumper sticker consider themselves as simply proud Southerners”. This indicates that some southerners are proud of a flag that was carried in a war were white southerners fought to keep slavery in effect. People should not be proud of oppressing others especially when no one is superior or inferior to each other and the government should not have a problem with protecting their people. Therefore, the government should ban the confederate because of the hatred and racism it inflicts upon African Americans.
The controversial topic of the confederate flag goes way deeper than violence between civilanes. The controversy over the confederate flag is now interfering with the government. Fullwood Reggie the author of “Confederate Flag’s Symbol is Clear-Monuments Not So Much” provides evidence that claims that the confederate flag interferes the government. [Fullwood] claims”There is a reason that Barack Obama did not win one “Traditional Southern” state. Sure he won Florida twice, but the Sunshine State is unique because of the millions of northern immigrants and the state’s diversity in population. It’s an issue that is closely related to the flying of the confederate flag”[Fullwood]. This indicates that confederate flag supporters are not only inflicting hatred and racism towards other civilians but the government as well.
Many advocates may argue that the flag causes no harm to society. Fullwood also states “ As I just said, the proponents argue that the Rebel flag is simply a sign of Southern pride. As the proud banner of Southern patriotism, this criss crossed ban of stars is supposed to represent the South’s struggle against the oppression from the North”[Fullwood].This indicates that the confederate flag stands for freedom of the south and the south being relieved from the oppression caused by the south. However, the south was oppressed by the north because of slavery. Therefore, the governments should ban the confederate because it is interfering with the government it is not just interfering with civilians any more.
The Confederate flag is a very controversial topic and brings an argument of of whether it is heritage or hate. Most Black southerners would say that it is hate and white southerners would say it is heritage. Lippard D. Cameron the author of “Heritage or hate? A pedagogical guide to the Confederate flag in post-race America” provides evidence that supports both sides of the argument. [Lippard claims]” Roof murdered nine African Americans at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. He was often photographed holding a confederate flag and made blatantly racist comments about African Americans to his friends”[Lippard 57]. This indicates that the use of the confederate flag is a sign of hatred towards black people. Roof gunning down innocent African-American has hatred written all over it especially if there’s no motive besides the victims being African-American. Many advocates may argue that it is a simple demonstration of southern pride. Lippard claims”In 2015, 54 percent of Americans polled saw the flag as a symbol of ‘Southern pride”[Lippard 56].This indicates that a hand full of caucasians believe the flag is a representation of freedom of the north. However, there are more caucasians that believe the Confederate flag does represent hatred according to the data.Therefore, the confederate flag should be banned due to the meaning that is conveyed.
The confederate flag is a very sensitive topic to most African-American and or minorities because of what it stands for. The Confederate flag pushes oppression back on to people who were once oppressed and exploited. It is unacceptable to allow the confederate flag to continue to be displayed, the government wouldn’t be doing its job if it continues.Unnecessary violence will occur and the government can also be corrupted due to the different views. The Confederate flag is view as a symbol of racism to some African-Americans because of the want to keep blacks enslaved by white-supremacist. Most white southerners consider the confederate flag to be a symbol of freedom and independence. However, while white southerners are proud of the confederate flag while black southerners are oppressed and discriminated against by confederate flag supporters. The moral point of this is argument is that the governments should ban the Confederate flag because of corruption of the government’s, hatred acts inflicted upon African-American people and the violation of human rights.The controversy behind the confederate flag is destroying society slowly.The Confederate flag is causing unnecessary violence on civilians and it is unhealthy for the governments and ordinary people. Innocent people are being gunned down because of the color of their skin. If the government fails to do anything about it that proves that the government is condemning discrimination among blacks. Civilians should be advocating to take down the confederate flag so everyone is in full use of their human rights.Therefore, the government should ban the Confederate flag because of the danger and inequality it brings to society.
Fullwood, Reggie. “Confederate Flag Symbolism is Clear – Monuments Not so Much.” The Jacksonville Free Press, Oct, 2017, pp. 4. ProQuest, http://central.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/docview/1965067535?accountid=26979. 19 April,2019
Fullwood, Reggie. “The Confederate Flag a Symbol of Racism in America – SC Take It Down.” The Jacksonville Free Press, 2015, p. 4.19 April,2019
Murty, Komanduri, and Ashwin Vyas. “AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS’ REACTIONS TO THE CONFEDERATE FLAG: A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO INTEGRATE POST TRAUMATIC SLAVE SYNDROME 1 AND MICROAGGRESSION THEORY.” Race, Gender & Class, vol. 24, no. 1/2, 2017, pp. 133–159. 19 April,2019
Lippard, Cameron D. “Heritage or hate? A pedagogical guide to the Confederate flag in post-race America.” Learning and Teaching [LATISS], vol. 10, no. 3, 2017, p. 56+. Contemporary Women’s Issues, http://link.galegroup.com.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A536533661/CWI?u=cuny_centraloff&sid=CWI&xid=01ec0176. Accessed 28 Apr. 2019.
Zissou, Rebecca. “Heritage or hate: the battle over the confederate flag: should it be banned at school?” Junior Scholastic/Current Events, 17 Mar. 2014, p. 15. Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A361711603/AONE?u=cuny_centraloff&sid=AONE&xid=96466210. Accessed 28 Apr. 2019.
