Dear Editor,
This rhetoric of the Confederate flag being misinterpreted is baffling.
Quite literally the very first result on Google, the Wikipedia page for the Confederate flag, clearly states the flag creator’s (William T. Thompson) purpose in doing so, as quoted by him, was this: “As a people we are fighting to maintain the Heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race; A white flag would thus be emblematic of our cause. Upon a red field would stand forth our southern cross, Gemmed, preserving in beautiful contrast the red white and blue.” How is that intent not painfully clear?
It also does not actually matter if one flying the flag did not intend to be racist, because the impact is racist sentiment, regardless.
Secondly, the phrase “doing things the right way, nothing confrontational” found within the article is problematic, because it is telling the victims how to properly fight for their own freedom, yet again placating the struggle and doing things in a way that does not disrupt daily white, privileged life (which obviously needs disruption).
Martin Luther King, Jr. said “violence is the language of the unheard.”
It is often the most effective tool in the end for getting a message across – a la the burning of the CVS in Baltimore during the riots surrounding the unjust death of Freddie Gray. Of course then, more white people in media seemed worried about the fact that property was damaged over black personhood — but the message was pretty clear, I thought.
I agree with taking the flag down, most certainly; however, I also want it to usher in more understanding and justice for the affected communities, not just for the symbolism of it all. I look forward to a new era long coming for this school.
Sincerely,
Victoria Burgos
Victoria is a Senior Recreation Administration and Environmental Studies
