The Confederate Flag… Symbolism & Meaning
- Saturday, June 13, 2009, 12:31
- American History, Civil War, Memory, Politics, Slavery
- 10 comments
Over at Kevin’s blog, as he has many times, there is some interesting discussion going on concerning the Confederate Flag and how it is displayed in public. The issue centers around memory, how it is being celebrated, the flag’s meaning, and why it is displayed. I am overtly simplifying here the discussion there.
Anyway, just for kicks I did some google searching for “Confederate Flag” and came across some interesting images of the Southern symbol. Some I selected as they were funny, others not so funny.
What is the flag’s meaning and how important is that when considering its display? If it is used as in a message of hate, obviously that is rude. If it used as a symbol of the Lost Cause myth, than that is ignorant. However it is used should that even be a determining factor? Anyway, consider each of these below and if you want chime in on what you think the meaning for each is, please do.
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Chris has written 601 stories on this site.
A.P. United States History teacher in Colorado and published Author.
10 Comments on “The Confederate Flag… Symbolism & Meaning”
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I think the Bikini Confederate Flag is the best one… but in all seriousness, I have more important things to worry about (my job, the economy, that super volcano at Yellowstone) than whether or not the meaning and memory of the Confederate Flag should even be an issue… I’ll leave that to Kevin Levin and those “intellectuals” who are just too smart for the rest of us!
Chris, find a better subject to post on or I might start putting you in the “hate the South” category…
Sam I am, the Redneck
Sam, which bikini one? Anyway, memory and history, if you haven’t noticed, are things discussed here from time to time so…
As for the rest, please, you make no sense….
C
It’s all about context. To know what it’s all about, you have to ask the individuals that choose to display the flag because they’re each going to have their own reasoning. Few symbols on the planet have universal meaning, why would the Confederate flag be any different? The real question is why people feel uncomfortable at the sight of it. Ask that question, then we might actually get some real dialogue.
Steve interesting post. Here’s a way to consider it. I think we can all agree that the sight of, say, the Nazi flag in public by Neo-Nazis or whoever, would be revolting. Why? Because as we know the Nazis murdered millions of people and attempted to exterminate an entire people. However, with the Confederate flag, I don’t think there is anything close to that kind of meaning or symbolism. Under the Confederate flag, the South fought to preserve its way of life as a Slave society. The rub is, of course, the Middle Passage and the potentially millions or so Blacks killed as well as the brutal and sometimes barbaric treatment of slaves. Is the flag a symbol of that? If so, than it would be a repulsive display, would it not? However, that is where the debate over its display gets convoluted.
Chris
“Anyway, consider each of these below and if you want chime in on what you think the meaning for each is, please do.”
If I were alive during the Civil War, then I picture myself as fighting for the Union, a Yankee from Ohio. I think the Confederate flag today is part of OUR history, not to be forgotten or hidden away, but not to be revered. It represented the Confederacy. I think there are some today who use it as a symbol in a way that would raise eyebrows of surprise of an 1863 Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia. I’ll admit the sight of a Confederate flag alarms me. Below are my thoughts on the picture meanings, (CF = Confederate flag).
#1. Man with CF staff resting on his shoulder
Not sure what to think of this one. Perhaps he is part of a protest or boycott of whatever business whose front is partially shown behind him? Did the business display or act in a bigoted way?
#2. Bikini
This is a disgusting showing of the CF. This young lady should be stripped of her clothing depicting the CF. I volunteer my services. Obviously, this is a colorized version of an actual Civil War photograph. I did not realize they had bikinis during the Civil War! That Mathew Brady was quite the devil wasn’t he? Why don’t we see more of his great Civil War work in the bikini category? The Library of Congress is holding back on us. Forget what I said earlier about being a Yankee from Ohio during the Civil War, I’ll join up with her side, be it North, South, East, West, right-side-up, or upside down.
#3. Men with black shirts, drinking beer.
My impression is that these two boys may have no other motive than to drink as much beer as fast as possible and then have a good long nap. I’m not convinced they even know the CF is represented on their shirts, or what a CF is.
#4. Ladies walking on sidewalk, in bikinis.
I get the idea they are thumbing their noses at the CF. A protest.
#5. KKK
Nothing funny here. The lowest forms of human life proving how low they are.
#6. Large CF flying above streets.
Would have to know who is flying this flag and why. First thought is; “Whoa, I’m not driving around that part of town.”
#7. House with Stars and Stripes and CF
There is an Obama campaign sign in the yard, a scarecrow-like figure, and a cross on the side of the house. Total confusion here, I’m not sure what I’d be thinking if I knocked on the door. Looks like they try to keep a pretty neat place though.
#8. Chevy with bumper stickers
Looks like maybe someone who is really, really, proud to be of the South and from Georgia. Probably someone who has romanticized the Civil War, may not be making any racial statements…but maybe is. I think I’d have to meet this person and size him/her up some before coming to a conclusion. Could be nothing, could be something more, might be covering up rust spots, faded paint, or bought a used car and the stickers came with it.
#9. Old bald guy with CF flag bedcover
You don’t want to end up like this guy. Note that it appears to be a SINGLE bed, with a remote on it. Our guy Slick here, is spending a lot of time alone at night watching TV. I can’t read what’s on his T-shirt. I’m thinking maybe this guy needs a girlfriend or wife, I feel kind of sorry for him.
#10. Heritage CF
This is the second most interesting to me, but still lags behind the blond bikini picture by a huge margin. I confess I don’t understand “Southern Heritage,” but I’m glad to see that the owner of this CF does not add hate as part of his/her Southern heritage. I’m a Yankee from Ohio, who has lived in North Carolina for thirteen years. Over the years in NC, sometimes I have experienced some hostility about my being a Yankee, but 99% of the native Tarheels I know show no such feeling toward me. If I’d had my druthers, I would have been born and raised where I live now in NC. Being a Buckeye for a long time, my colors are Union blue, and scarlet and gray (GO BUCKEYES!). So, I’ve never caught on yet to just exactly what it means to have Southern Heritage in 2009. I catch a lot more grief from Michigan Wolverines than I do Southern Heritage types.
Summary:
I’ve mostly been tongue-in-cheek here, but have a few serious points too. Overall, first impressions mean a lot, but you can’t judge a book by its cover. Except for #5, I think there can be a lot of interpretations as to the meaning of each picture. More of an exercise about me than the pictures themselves? And what does this ink blot look like to you?
FWIW.
Jonathan, wow, thanks for the commentary!
C
“The rub is, of course, the Middle Passage”
==============================
The Confederate flag was never involved in that particular episode of history. But the flags of Britain, Portugal, France, Netherlands, Spain and the United States were involved to the tune of at least 1.3 million deaths during the Middle Passage.
I like the pictures. If people don’t like the pics. then don’t look at them. I recently have had my confederate flags ripped out of my truck and destroyed. Now me being a rebel, I have to take up new and fight the battle for a free south land. FOR ALL YOU YANKEES OUT THERE YOU CAN KISS MY REBEL ASS…….
To me I think that this is a racis matter for example I am from the south and being a NATIVE AMERICAN this shows me that we have still have not changed are ways as a country. To me I was pissed off when they had that one stick with the NATIVE and the conferdial flag. I know that if that person came into town they would something like that on there car they would have had there ass kicked by all NATIVE AMERICANS that was around. JUST REMEMBER THAT MY ANTSISER WAS HERE BEFORE THE WHITE PEOPLE WHICH, THEY STOLE THE LAND FROM US!!!!!! NOW WHO IS RIGHT????????????????????
I cannot see an answer to this. I find it so[powerful the responses that the post has drawn. Kiss my rebel..? It just might be an individual’s reaction to it, and will never meet a group consensus. Having family from the camps I cannot see a swatztiker with revulsion.(I know people have told me i is an old symbol of good luck. i guess a few million people ran out of luck.) Regarding these pictures the blond young lady in the bathing suit I will admit and lingered on her picture. While the guys in the sheets I zipped right by. Images are very powerful and tend to stay at an emotional level. I believe this post had hree people identify whre they live or came from. The bars and stars for me is just a flag only in the hands of white sheeted individuals or very angry people does it make me feel nervous