Why do northerners think that southerners who display the Confederate flag are racist?

Question

I live in Raleigh, North Carolina and this state was a former confederate state so we display the Confederate flag. A lot of people (usually people from the northern states) say that southerners who display the Confederate flag are racist ... but that's not true. I have no problems with black people but what I do have problems with is the current cultures of black Americans (the way they dress, the RAP music, etc). The reason I display the confederate flag is to honor the history of this state, and honor the soldiers who died in the civil war, who were from North Carolina.

So why do a lot of people from northern states have to judge southerners who display the Confederate flag and assume they are "white trash" racists? Because we are not, we are simply honoring our heritage.

Answer 1

One of the main reasons for the civil war was because the South did not want to abolish slavery. That is the reason they wanted to recede from the rest of the nation. They elected their own president, and made their own flag to support their own belief.

So when you display the confederate flag you are supporting the views that the South gave for wanting to recede (including supporting slavery).

If you want to display your heritage display the AMERICAN flag. If it wasn't for the heroes of the Revolutionary War, your heritage would be completely different.

Answer 2

The "Confederate Flag" you speak of was not the national flag of the Confederate government. It was a battle flag that somehow caught the eye of the KKK after the war between the states. It's popularity was built on KKK propaganda and actions. Were you to fly the actual Conferate Flag, I doubt there would be any question of racism. I fly the true Confederate Flag here in Texas, on occasion, and there isn't any problems. The true flag contained thirteen stars (adding the seceding states of Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee as well as two states that attempted, but failed, to secede: Kentucky and Missouri). The flag's first official use was at the inauguration of Jefferson Davis on March 4, 1861. It is called the stars and bars and has 3 bars as well as the circle of stars.


Damn! I just read a bunch of the answers from both North and South. Doesn't anyone do any research or reading of history before blurting out Northern or Southern propaganda!

Answer 3

The underlining problem with this whole situation is that because Victors write history, you end up with the general perception that Confederate=Slavery. Now I know that there are some who present the flag with the intention of showing pride of the South, but in Today's World, you cannot get away with this. Speaking to serveral people, I am sure they know that they are presenting Slavery alongside the Flag, and this is why other methods should be brought forth in order to show your pride. You simply cannot escape the wrath of others as well as yourself by displaying this message. That's all there is to it.

Answer 4

The Confederate flag is a reminder of the Civil War. Most people wrongly believe that the Civil War was about slavery. (It was actually about states' rights. Slaves were freed to hurt the South and make them surrender. Although Lincoln disliked slavery, he didn't intend to free slaves when elected.) The second reason would be the use of the Confederate flag as a symbol by the KKK.

Both reasons are not valid reasons for banning a person's culture.

Answer 5

Being a Southern man myself (Texan) I once (back in high school) asked the same question. The answer is this, the Confederate flag stood for more than just Southern unity but unity in oppressing the black man and the believed divine right of the whites to own them. The men who died from the south in that war died so rich slave owners could continue to own black people. People flying the flag today are in a sense denying the great value of the North winning that war and pledging alliance to the South. By proxy, pledging alliance to the Confederate States is pledging alliance to the slave owners. Thus, the Confederate Flag is racist.

Answer 6

I am a "Northerner" and I sure as heck don't feel that way. I think that people who find the Confederate Flag are disrespecting the history of our country, and those soldiers who died during the civil war. It represents a period of transition that we should not forget. Some people think it is racist because they associate it with slavery. But, that idea is just close minded and liberal whining to the MAX. The Confederate Flag had nothing to do with slavery....the people who beat slaves did. The flag symbolized the unity of the southern states during a battle...a part where we are today.

Further, in response to another poster....the flag is not ok for some of us, but not all of us, based on region. Lots of "Southerners" live in The North these days buddy. We are no longer separated.

Moreover, The South did not leave the union based on slavery alone - do your homework. They were fighting for much more than slaves. And if you really do some digging, you might find that some slaves were better off "owned" than on their own. A lot of them led a much harder life after the war, trying to make it without shelter, food, or care.

I am so sick of people playing the damn slavery card. Get over it...it happened a hundred years ago!!! Stop using as a catalyst for arguments.

Answer 7

You're honoring a heritage which, you cannot deny, includes black slavery. It does not exclude it. If you want to honor the history of North Carolina, you should display the North Carolina flag. The Confederate flag is a symbol of a government formed to protect a society that was, regardless of what great values and people it produced, economically based on the practice of slavery and could not continue without it.

I understand that most of Southern history is something you are rightfully proud of, and I don't assume that flying the stars and bars means you are racist ... but it does show a complete lack of respect for the fact that black slavery is a part of that history that is represented, to onlookers if not by you deliberately, any time you fly a Confederate flag... It cannot be helped.

It's sorta like the slogan of the state of Alabama - 'We dare defend our rights.' Now, this slogan is in itself a noble thing - but in the context of history it DOES allude to states' rights (political, but not racist), and in the context of history it DOES make me think of the states' rights at issue in the Civil War, including the 'right' to own slaves. I think it's a beautiful and inspiring slogan ... however, in its context as the motto of Alabama, it smacks of approval of slavery, to me.

Whether or not they should therefore change their slogan is really the issue. IMO they should not, because they choose it according to what it means to them, not to me. Same deal with you putting a Confederate flag sticker on the back of your pickup ... go right ahead. But you should still be aware that in the context of American society, it can "mean" to other people that you are racist. It's your right to fly that flag, and it's my right to assume therefore that you are provincial and insensitive.

I don't think US states should fly the Confederate flag. That'd be like flying a Union Jack over the White House.

Answer 8

It's not that it symbolizes white trash, more than it symbolizes a pride in the history of the confederacy... which a large part of their separation from the union had to do with not wanting to give up the right to own black people as slaves.

It's a commonly used symbol amongst the kkk & other white supremacy organizations.

While all people who display this flag do not feel it represents those symbols for them... it's important to understand & analyze how other people will respond to your visual communication. The message is vague & can be easily misinturpreted.

Both sides lost soldiers in the civil war, A LOT... so as long as it's accompanied by an American flag, I have no issue with displaying the confederate one.

-I'm from the northwest

*there are racists/bigots everywhere, but stereotypes persist & factual studies by the census back up the notion that there is a greater disparity in wealth/education/healthcare between whites & minorities in the south. The north has disparities as well, but in Seattle where I am, they are not nearly as obvious & drastic as say, Dallas.

Answer 9

I too am a Southerner. There was a time when I was younger that I also displayed the Confederate flag. I then came to realize that though we may feel pride in our heritage, that very symbol of that heritage cause very different emotions in some others. I am still proud of the better aspects of the failed Confederacy. However, I am ashamed of the sorrier aspects. Especially of slavery. It doesn't take a great leap of the imagination to understand why blacks citizens of this country are saddened by the sight of that flag. To fly something, regardless of the reason, that causes pain to others at best show a lack of concern.

I believe this is why many consider it racist. And they are not all from the north. another reason is because many white supremicist groups have adopted it as their symbol. Sadly, those who fly the flag because of their heritage have been rather hesitant to decry this act.

Before you get too angry with those who disagree with you try seeing things from their perspective. I would encourage them to do the same with you.

Answer 10

The war may not have been fought to end slavery, but a significant cause of succession was state rights. Significant parts of these states rights were possible political threats to the institution of slavery. Therefore the value of states rights was put above individual rights. Is that a cause we should have respect for?

Answer 11

Not all of us do! Don't generalize, much like you dislike some Northerners to do.

I believe that if it is the state flag of your state than you should absolutely fly it and the state should not be expected to bow to pressure from groups who insist that the confederate flag is racist in and of itself. Of course some who fly it are racist; there are racists everywhere! But this flag is part of a history of an area and those who live there. Political Correctness is going too far!