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.
