The NAACP and the Confederate Flag

By now most of you are aware that the NAACP is once again pushing the state of South Carolina to remove the Confederate flag from statehouse grounds. In 2000 the flag was removed from atop the Capitol dome to a position near the Confederate Soldier Monument. First, let me say that I believe the NAACP has the right to protest a symbol that they believe to be offensive. Anyone who knows the history of that flag, especially during the era of "Massive Resistance", must understand the perspective of African Americans. The idea that any one individual has a monopoly on the proper interpretation of such a divisive symbol is simply to fail to understand the epistemology of public symbols. I also want to say that I support the mission of the NAACP even though I do not agree with all of their programs and public positions. I say this this to preface the fact that I do not understand their decision to continue this protest in South Carolina.

My objection boils down to the belief that this protest will only work to further divide the parties involved. We are at a point now where neither side is really interested in understanding one another's perspective and this leads to public statements and accusations that tend to generalize about the motivations of various institutions and organizations. The upshot is little or no opportunity to find common ground or even the space to communicate with one another in an honest and open manner.

That said, my biggest complaint with the NAACP is that they are misappropriating their resources. There simply is no way to win this fight. I would much rather see the NAACP focus on reconnecting African Americans with the Civil War and its emancipationist legacy. The Civil War Sesquicentennial is right around the corner, yet you wouldn't know it if you perused the NAACP's website. Instead of spending valuable hours and funds on the display of the Confederate flag I advocate pushing new symbols that demonstrate both the richness of black history as well as the centrality of the Civil War to the greatest story of freedom that this nation can tell.

Although I have no way of measuring, it seems to me that most African Americans care little about the Civil War. This is not entirely the fault of black Americans since for much of the twentieth century little in the way of black history was taught in public schools and when it was taught it tended to be slanted towards an interpretation written by white Americans with the intention of being consumed by white Americans. In recent years, however, museums, historical societies, and especially the National Park Service have taken steps specifically geared to attracting black Americans and yet little has changed. The NAACP should be engaged in reclaiming the Civil War as the central moment in the history of black America. Such a move would go much further in challenging defenders of the Confederate flag who claim that it is simply a symbol of the common soldier without any connection to how that symbol functioned in an army whose purpose was to defend a slave society.

The NAACP could organize tours of Civil War battlefields, especially at places where USCTs took part and helped shape the course of the war, and their website could easily include more information that would be useful to teachers and general readers alike. Wouldn't this be a more meaningful use of one's time and resources rather than removing one Confederate flag?

Comments

[Tim]

I agree with you completely, but the NAACP won't do anything like you suggest because it wouldn't get the press coverage the flag issue gets. Plus it's a lot easier to complain about the flag than to prepare an educational program to explore African American involvement in the Civil War.

[Kevin Levin]

In that sense the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the NAACP have much more in common than you might think.

[Jarret]

Working as a TA at the University of Calgary, I've found (so far at least)that students in Canada (black and white)approach the civil War from a refreshingly distant stance. In other words, they are VERY interested in the war and its legacies, and they know what the Confederate flag stands for, but they do not, obviously, carry the kind of partisan baggage that you so often see in the US. The point I'm trying to make is that when the Civil War is approached from a de-personalized angle, it often allows for more nuanced and rewarding classroom discussion.

On the other hand, I often see rebel flag stickers on vehicles in Alberta. I guess it shows just how much that flag has become a generic "symbol" of "rebellion" in which its actual meanings are largely ignored.

- Jarret

[TF Smith]

Aren't there a lot of ex-pat Americans in Alberta because of the oil industry? If so, I'd expect mnore than a few "oil patch" Americans from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, etc might be the source of the confederate flags.

[matthew mckeon]

The NAACP is an political organization that is trying to achieve political goals. It's not a academic/educational institution.

As others have said, its not about the 1860s, the flag is about the 1950s(and later).

[Jarret]

TF,

Yea, there are tons of American oil guys up here. So you could be right.

- Jarret

[Marvin W. Miller]

In the period of the presidencial primaries several comments were aimed againt Barack Obama, now the Democrat front runner. These comment hit every news media in America and around the world. Each one were race related againt their own kind. These comment came not only from Obama's ex-minister, but from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. It was mostly because Obama wants to bring the white and blacks together and abolish racizm all together. In my opinion the leaders of the NAACP movement are the one's who keep the racial fire aflame and don't want it any other way. As for as a flag that someone want to use as a display, a symble of their heritage, I do feel they have a right to do so, but If it is used as a symble of hate, than it should not be allowed. I have found that the NAACP don't have to have a cause to protest against something, they look for reasons. It is also a fact that a lot of black churches in the northern states are peaching more about race issues that they are about Jesus Christ.

[Kevin Levin]

Marvin, -- Thanks for taking the time to write. It's always nice to hear from a first-time commenter. I agree that the Primary season has been divisive and comments about race suggest not only the complexity of the issue, but how far we've come over the past few decades. I think the racial comments came from across the political and racial spectrum, at least that's what I remember of it. As for the NAACP, I think any serious assessment will take more than a short blog comment.

The Confederate flag is perceived by one group to be a symbol of racism while another group believes it reflects the best of white Southern heritage. If that is our starting point than the question is where do we go from here. My post was meant to suggest that the NAACP needs to play more of a proactive role in this rather than simply beating a tired issue. It was not to suggest they ought to bear all or even most of the blame.

Thanks again for the comment.