How did the Confederate flag become a symbol of racism? When was it not? (Opinion) {al.com}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Charles J. Dean | [e-mail]
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on March 31, 2015 at 6:45 AM

The photo above ran with this headline on Al.com Monday: How did the Confederate flag become a symbol of racism?

My first thought was: Is this a trick question? My second thought was that my friend and colleague Leada Gore was setting a trap for me. My third thought was: don't do it! Don't fall for it and answer the question.

Alas I lacked will power. So here are some answers:

The Confederate flag became a symbol of racism the minute it was designed and made and unfurled on its first battlefield where under it a rebellious army fought to defend slavery.
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more: http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/03/how_did_the_confedeerate_flag.html




Posted because people do still ask this question.

[BillZBubb]

1. It was always the symbol of racism. The first answer is the correct one.

Under it you are fighting for the right to hold people of a different race as property, as slaves.

[Skittles]

2. love it when southern folk tell me it's all about HERITAGE

yes, RACIST HERITAGE

[still_one]

5. so racism is part of their heritage, what are they trying to say?

[Nitram]

11. No, they are in denial.

They believe in a revisionist version of history where the South was fighting for state's rights and against tariffs on imported goods.

[still_one]

12. got it. For them it may be a matter of connotation, but it really isn't, because state's rights and

slavery went hand in hand, along with other issues as you pointed out, tariffs for example

[Nitram]

13. What I find really stupid is the propensity red necks driving pickups to...

...stick a confederate flag next to the American flag on their rear window. "I'm a patriot, no, I'm a traitor, no I'm a patriot, no, I'm a traitor..."

[Cirque du So-What]

3. T'was ever thus

I have to go with the answer given above, right before the link.

[Hoyt]

4. This piece of crud used to run for office when I was growing up claiming he was not a racist,

right up til they locked him up for bomving a church in Birmingham. That flag celebrates racism, and nothing else.

[guillaumeb]

6. at least he took off the white hood so you can see his face

mighty nice of him

[blkmusclmachine]

7. https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7215/7175175750_fd17363df4.jpg

[onecaliberal]

8. It was always the racist rag it continues to be.

[yurbud]

9. the confederate flag is for racists too cowardly to wear a swastika

[angstlessk]

10. I was born in VA and the saying was...

"the south will rise again" and our kid response was "and shit floats"