Why is it so important to african americans to have the REBEL flag removed???

Question

1st of all, i'm not pred. against most, only those that have serious problems. but what is the reason??? it really makes me mad that a rebel flag can be flown fo sooo many years and then boom bam, certain people makes a big fuss and can get it taken down. i hear all the time "oh it's an insult". but, how and why? it's not like the flag is affecting a/a. u never hear of any other americans making suck a big deal over other things, ex. black history month.

Answer 1

I am black and I dont think it should be moved. I think that black people should look to it as a reminder. A reminder of what I wont go back to even if it mean taking ones seed and disposing of it. So I encourage the south to raise your flag high

Answer 2

Judging from the amount of media coverage, the general consensus appeared/appears to be that the blacks interviewed felt it represented a time and a philosophy that was offensive to them. You make a good point about the amount of time the flag was flown, and it wasn't until recently that the protests gained enough momentum to become a front-burner item of interest. I think it was precisely because time has pressed on, and previous white generations felt stronger about the flag and what it represented to them. I'm a middle-aged man and I recall my mother explaining how, when she was in high school, the student body would stand during the playing of the tune "Dixie."
IMO most southern white folks never really associated the confederate flag with a by-gone era when the south was prosperous and slavery was gloriously good and proper. The slavery association seems to have slowy gained more and more momentum, as generations passed away and white people no longer have a strong-hold on government, but also sadly used by hate groups as a symbol of their twisted thinking.
My family has a long, well-established and respectful southern heritage regardless of the fact that only one of my many southern decendents even owned slaves. Of course slavery was wrong; it has always been wrong, not only affecting black people, but many different groups that have been enslaved throughout time. Anyway, for me, the flag represents the last bastion of true southern grace and charm; where chivalry was still alive in a society uncluttered by technology and life traveled along at a slower pace. Sure, slavery was a bitter part of this, but not the over-whelming trait of the southern world; especially with so many people that didn't own slaves. But history sometimes likes to highlight things in a skewed fashion, according to political correctness.
Slavery was always about economic advantage, and I believe future inventions that were being developed would have pushed slavery to extinction (quicker than most would think), as it would have no longer been the most prosperous method of bringing cotton and other crops to the world. Eventually there would have been this southern region with all it's charm and beauty without the ugliness of slavery. Seccession truly was about poor or non-existent southern political representation (but that's another story).
However, I do think the southern flag should be removed from all public government and municipal buildings. It does not represent our current government, so it's about as appropriate to fly it as it is the flag of England. IMHO the confederate flag belongs in museums where items are displayed for their memorial and other content. I might also add, I think the SC state government played dirty pool when they voted to remove the flag from the dome of the capital, only to place it on the front lawn of the state grounds. To me, if I were black, I too would resent that action more than having the flag wavering over the capitol, but that's just my opinion.
Some have commented that the rebel flag is for "losers," etc. but I don't think that way at all. The issue of seccession was brewing for a long time before it happened. I think many prominent, influencial southern people saw the train wreck coming and knew it was unavoidable as political issues and actions unfolded. These same wise people probably already knew the outcome of such a war, but saw no venue to prevent it. There's an adage that says a union soldier once asked a captured southerner why he was fighting this war; was it because of slavery or state's rights. The southern man paused for a second and replied, "it's neither, I'm fighting 'cause you came down here..."
I don't think the southern region has any more or less mean, hateful, uneducated or spiteful people than exists anywhere else. But to say that each and every southerner that holds the confederate flag in high esteem supports slavery, racism or has radical views is just plain wrong. The world has never been that simple..

May God bless us all....

Answer 3

The rebel flag stands for the same thing the american flag stands for, a group of people didn't agree with the way the government was treating them, and they rebelled....the only difference is that they weren't successful. Slavery was not nearly as big an issue in the civil war as some would think, it was mostly about economic oppression, taxes, and a desire to self-govern...much like the american revolution against england. And FYI, I absolutely hate the term african american, unless it's being applied to someone who is a citizen of both the US, and an african country....you are not african american if you've never even BEEN to africa. You're just plain old american, just like the rest of us....

Answer 4

If you're talking about the confederate flag, it's more than the fact that it's a symbol of racism, it's also a symbol of anarchy. And quite frankly, Bush has screwed up stability enough that we don't need anymore hints of chaos in the world right now.

Besides, if people view it as racism against black people, then it's not just a flag but it's racist. Doesn't matter whether it's a flag or a hundred dollar bill...doesn't have any meaning unless we attach meaning to it.

Answer 5

You, like so many others, generalize a specific group of people indicating that they ALL have the same opinion and that's just not true. There were African Americans who fought under the "rebel" flag for the South. Personally I don't give a hoot for it or for the US flag. It's a piece of cloth with red and blue dye on it and nothing more. It's the PEOPLE who put meaning onto it that cause the problem for some.

Answer 6

What is so dumb about the whole thing is that the Confederate flag was ignored by the southerners because the Confederate Navy battle flag didn't look like the union flag and was more flashy. Bigots usually believe flash is more important than reality. Then politicians pick up on the trend because they want votes. (Remember, this is history not present day. )

Answer 7

Well African Americans take it offensive because most of the time rebel flags stand for red necks or people that are racist and don't care if they show it off or not. Honestly I think that some people should have respect for others that aren't the same as us. Most African Americans aren't racist. You've just got to let them get to know you and let them realize you don't care what race they are. I know a lot of people that say African Americans are all bad people and that isn't true at all. You've just got to actually communicate with them, learn there life style and let them learn yours. But it's getting late I will add more on tomorrow. ~Sheena~

Answer 8

I'm not black. I'm not white either. Frankly, I don't care if someone displays that flag. I encourage people to protect freedom of speech, even the ignorant speech that puts me down for the color of my skin.

So fly it proudly, but all the same... right, wrong or indifferent, I won't have anything to do with anyone who displays it. I will, however, honor your right to wave it around.

Answer 9

Because it is a reminder that once upon a time a group of people had the balls to tell the U.S. federal government that they didn't want to be overtaxed without having a voice.
It is fitting that such a symbol be demonized in this day in age when 40% of our individual earnings go to support a defective federal government.
To say that the Confederate flag has anything to do with keeping black people enslaved is ignorant....ignorant as the bigots that have flew such a sacred symbol while spreading their hatred.

Answer 10

Oh...yeah. I can't say anything because I have no idea what the rebel flag even means. But I don't see why it's such a big deal, honestly. It's just a flag.