Southern Heritage and Hate

In many of the heated discussions that surround the idea of Southern heritage prevalent throughout modern conversations on Confederate imagery, the idea that symbols of the hatred bolstered by the Confederacy are necessary in order to preserve history. Many argue that statues of Confederate generals and the flying of the confederate flag are honoring the memory of those who fought in the war, who fought not for a pro-slavery cause, but for the preservation of their culture. However, these arguments ignore the fact that slavery defined every facet of the Civil War. From states rights to economic liberties, all tie back to slavery—whether states could uphold an institution that traded humanity for profit. Those who continue to fight for the preservation of Confederate symbols do so through the promotion of false narratives.

A common theme throughout the argument of Southern pride is the desire to honor ancestors who fought bravely for their cause. Family members adorn grave sites with Confederate flags and slogans like “The South will rise again.” Though veiled in heritage, this celebration of the Confederacy serves as a way to perpetuate what these soldiers were fighting for: a society and culture built on racism and oppression. Through these reminders, contemporary Confederates are denying any fault in the antebellum South, as if saying that the dehumanizing society was something worth fighting for. Ignoring these implications of celebrations of the Confederacy help to ingrain racist ideals into the modern fabric of our country.

By celebrating individuals like Nathan Bedford Forrest and other Confederate soldiers, the atrocities committed by these individuals are overlooked. By honoring these “fine people,” for their contributions to the South, a false narrative is created that serves to subliminally support the racism of these individuals. Even beyond the fact that many of these statues were erected well after the civil war in order to intimidate black communities, they do little to preserve history. Instead, they create a history that did not actually happen by ignoring the realities of the past. Through this false history, long-held bigotry is able to spread, as seen in the hate-filled protests in Charlottesville. Though claiming that Confederate symbols do not represent the racist ideals of the antebellum (and contemporary) South, such protestors proudly wave the Stars and Bars while preaching white supremacy.

           

In order to preserve history and to learn from it, the real facts must be illuminated. Honoring those who rebelled against a unified country on the basis of racism does not promote growth. We must acknowledge the faults of the past, even if it may involve condemning our ancestors who fought for the enslavement of other humans.

Source: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/09/the-sons-of-confederate-veterans-are-the-guardians-of-white-innocence.html

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Pledged: Zach Thornton