For more than a century, the state flag of Mississippi has included the Confederate battle emblem. That all changed on Sunday when the legislature overwhelmingly decided to remove the controversial symbol and create a new flag that would represent all the inhabitants of the Magnolia State. This is great news for a racially diverse state, where approximately 38% of the population is black.
In a tense national climate, the historic move has been treated with its share of support and derision. To be sure, the move was long overdue. Regardless of personal feelings about the general historical significance of the Confederate symbol, it signifies slavery, subjugation, and the South’s treasonous attempt to defy the United States and its founding principles. For years, white supremacist organizations have used the symbol to represent the very worst of humanity: a deep, seething hatred for their fellow man based solely on skin color. At the very least, it is inappropriate for a governmental body to use the Confederate battle emblem.
Right now, the entire country seems to be on fire both literally and figuratively. There is a very real political and cultural war that is raging. As we head toward November’s presidential election, things are likely to get worse. While the turmoil has brought its fair share of negative aspects, there is some good that has come out of all the upheaval. Among others, one positive effect is that the last state in the country to showcase the symbol of the Confederacy finally voted to rid itself of it.
It is easy to say that all change borne of extreme conflict has come about because of undue pressure, and therefore, shouldn’t be celebrated. But this views transformation only through a present-day lens. Mississippi’s decision to remove the symbol should have happened long ago. That a national crisis spurred them to join the rest of the nation, make their residents more comfortable, and show the state to be more welcoming to all deserves applause.
Still, none of this is tacit approval for mob behavior that we have seen across the country. It is possible to support the removal of Confederate flags or statues without endorsing the manner in which some have been taken down. Violence and vandalism have no place in the push for change.
Suffice it to say, no one expected 2020 to be the year these seemingly permanent fixtures were closely scrutinized. A global health crisis, lockdowns, and of course, documented police brutality mixed together to create a restlessness that led us to this point. Despite claims to the contrary, it’s important to remember that calling for the removal of monuments or flags in no way erases history. The painful, difficult, and wrong chapters of our nation’s past must continue to be studied. However, they need not be celebrated simply because they exist. Flying Confederate flags and displaying Confederate statues honor some of the worst parts of our past. These are not symbols that promote freedom for all. For that reason alone, they should be moved from the public square and relegated to museums, not destroyed by angry mobs drunk on violence.
If this year had not have progressed as it did, would the Mississippi state flag and other monuments to the Confederacy have remained, at least for a while? Perhaps. But that is not the course of events. In so many ways, a catalyst was necessary to shake complacency from some who have too long ignored those things that silently treat our fellow Americans as lesser human beings.
On Sunday, Mississippi state legislators realized a long-awaited victory. Rep. Robert Johnson was one of them.
Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez choked back tears as he told reporters that he has seen white colleagues develop more empathy about how the Confederate symbol is painful to him and other African Americans.
“They began to understand and feel the same thing that I’ve been feeling for 61 years of my life,” Johnson said.
For many who live in Mississippi, this step in the right direction was unexpected but entirely necessary. No matter the path to this point, this progress calls for a celebration.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
