Chapter 1: Confederate Flag

The only way society can encourage social change is by changing certain things that will show that social change can happen. How can we have social change when society has not changed its standards. When you see a confederate flag, what do you think of? Why would the United States of America continue to allow its citizens (who encourage, demonstrate, and ratify hate), businesses, and other culture landmarks to keep a flag flying high in the air that is the symbol of racism?

The same way we people of color remember hanging from a tree. It is as though society wants to remind us that we will never truly be equal at all! African Americans saw for themselves at the Capitol Hill protest how many whites uplifted and waved the Confederate flag! They said it openly: I am white, I am white supremacy, I am white power. Not one day passes that it doesn’t cross my mind that we as African Americans would have never made it in or out if the White House. We would never have been allowed to sit in officials seats to take pictures. Most of us would have dead before being arrested. The charges that we would have faced would have been punishable to life in prison/death penalty. We would have faced maximum security/solitary confinement and been considered seriously dangerous, a threat to prison and society. Also, we would have been given unbelievable torture. 

The Confederate flag citizens weren’t even all picked up for offenses and crimes committed that day. Only reason why some were picked up and charged is because society knew certain actions/ behaviors do not receive equal punishment when it comes to race. The Black Panthers by law were able to carry guns since they could not be charged at the White House for any violations. Angela Davis and some of the Black Panthers members were lied to and betrayed by FBI agents and arrested. Remember Bloody Sunday? A Civil Rights movement that protested for equality. This did not happen at the White House. Look at how men died fighting for freedom against racism, hate, and compare it to whites who honor the Confederate flag in our society.

Yet we as a people of color and those of different races are always reminded when we see the Confederate flag of hardship, pain, trauma, and drama. It is a  continual reminder that I am a Nigger in their eyes. Every time you put a Confederate flag out in society it’s a constant painful reminder. The United States shows us with their actions that there will not be societal change to bridge the racial gap between all people. Because you are honoring someone who wanted to keep the racial gap. The system and the United Stated contradict themselves in regard to these issues that exist. It’s a slap in the face!