In the wake of the senseless shooting in Charleston, SC recently by an individual who obviously had problems, the country once again is up in arms over a symbol that for so many is a reflection of their heritage. As a History major specializing in Civil War history, I can see both sides of the coin. For those of descendants of slaves, its represents oppression, hatred, bondage and much worse. Yet for those of us whose roots are planted firmly in the South, it means so much more. My family fought in the Civil War. I had a great great great grandfather who died as a POW in a Union Camp called Rock Island. I had an ancestor die in Elmira POW Camp in New York. An Ancestor who died and is buried in Vicksburg and a great great great grandpa who fought in the 26th Volunteer Regiment of South Carolina.  None of my family held slaves, yet they willingly answered the call of their home states when called upon. Up until the Civil War, while we were considered the United States of America, in reality each state was considered its own sovereignty, states held more control over how the government of their state was managed. Big government was limited, in comparison to how it is today where they have a say in pretty much all aspects of government.   For many, the Civil War wasn’t about the right to keep their slaves, it was about the Federal Government forcing more control on the states, thereby taking away some of the rights states had held since this country had won it’s independence.

I will say this though, this country shouldn’t still be torn in a Civil War, thus the flag that is so prominently displayed in state capitols across the south, that so many southerners fly proudly on their property should come down. This flag is NOT the National Flag of the Confederate States. This Flag has no historical meaning for the confederacy other than as a Battle flag. It is so often confused with the true “stars and bars” of the Confederacy.

This is the Battle Flag. If it’s rectangular it represents the Battle Flag of the Army of Tennessee. If it’s square it represents the Army of Northern Virginia.

This However is the National Flag of the Confederacy. Or rather 1 of three. This was the first design. Notice how it is very similar in design to the original American Flag. With 13 stars representing the 13 states that were part of the Confederacy. When this design was done originally it contained 7, then moved to 9, then 11, finally to 13. Each addition represented the states that joined the confederacy.

As you can see, the True “Stars and Bars” shown on the right was the original National Flag. It was changed after the Battle of Bull Run (the first battle there) simply because General Lee preferred the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia in battle as it was less confusing as to who was fighting who. Imagine being in the heat of battle and seeing this flag not flying but rather laying limp due to lack of wind, wouldn’t you confuse this with the original American Flag? This is what General Lee felt. He said that it needed to change as far as Battle was concerned so they could actually tell the Union troops from their own soldiers.

A second National Flag was designed, one that has extreme negative connotation.  One that individuals who seek to oppress people, not of their skin color would associate with. One that as a true Southerner and Historian, I refuse to associate with my heritage, but yet must at least acknowledge its place in Southern History because for a time it was indeed used as a National Flag. It  as well was deemed not suitable for battle as it resembled too closely a flag of truce and surrender. It was referred to as the “Stainless Banner”. It was a solid white flag with an Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag in the top corner. Being deemed unsuitable for Battle it was once again redesigned to include a red stripe down the end of the flag and thereby called “The Blood Stained” Banner.

Take the Battle Flag down, by all means we shouldn’t still be at war with each other. We are supposed to be one nation under God, one people, one country. Yet please don’t assume that just because someone recognizes their heritage, honors the fallen who died during the war is racist. Not all southerners are racist, are there some, yes and sadly that won’t ever change unless we as individuals learn to read the book before we judge the cover. We have to learn from our history, slavery wasn’t just a southern issue. In fact, the North had their share of slaves, in fact, it was something that laid covered up for many years till slave burial grounds were found in New York. Slave Burial Ground found in the Bronx.  Slave Burial Ground found in 1991 in Manhattan. How can something like this go unnoticed, is it because for years people have been trying to rewrite the history books?  How have students of US History not been taught that slavery wasn’t just a “white man’s issue”?  I know for myself, it wasn’t until I studied African American History in college that I learned that many African tribes sold other tribes into slavery for guns. They would fight each other for dominance and as is typical of war, to the victor goes the spoils. Those they didn’t kill, they sold to the European traders for weapons to continue their tribal wars. Yet where is the outrage for this? Where is the protests, the demands that have been made against southerners to denounce their heritage, to take down their flags, change their school names against these tribes? Why is it okay to say that someone doesn’t like a college having a building named for a Southerner who contributed so much to that school and insist that it has to be erased from their history. Basically, what I am saying is you can’t blame one group for something that was a world issue.  Slavery was no doubt an evil that needed to come to an end.  The practices of few shouldn’t be blamed on the whole. Not every southern family had slaves, not every southern family that did treated them extremely harsh. Yet those that did are the ones that history remembers, they are the ones that allow individuals to blame an entire society for the evils perpetrated on them.

The South has always been known for its hospitality, for the beauty of its lands, and the code of Chivary that left a lasting impression on the hearts of those who claim to be Southerners. Where men were honor bound, women upheld their family dignity,  and yes ma’am and no ma’am were heard out of the mouths of generations. This is what being Southern truly means. This is why Southerners cling to their heritage and honor the legacies of their families. It’s not about slavery, it’s not about being racists, its about family, honor, dignity, and respect.

So from this Proud Southerners point of view, by all means please do remove the Battle Flag from places it has no right to be. However, do not tell me that the flags of my fathers, the flags they died under have no place in history. Have no place being acknowledged. Pick up a history book and read. Dig through your own family records and through State and National records and see what your own family history and heritage is. Teach your children not to judge a book by its cover, but rather to read the book and see what its about before rushing to judgement against them.