Caitlin Schwartz

English 1102
Mississippi flag
5/13/16

State legislature, specifically Mississippi, has brought a statewide vote for the change of
its state flag since 2001 with the case of having the confederate flag within its state flag. The
debate over heritage and racism has brought the attention of media with numerous attempts of a
state vote on the flag. Thus, the approach will differ from the original approach back in 2001
with a direct quota of equal races and compare the differences. Taking the time for equal and
different votes and opinions will thus prove the flag change vote was heavily white opinionated
and not Mississippi as a whole on keeping their current state flag.
One of the main points of the controversy with the confederate flag is the problem of
what the flag represented back in the day it was still flown. Not only is the flag itself first made
when Mississippi separated from the union, but also contains the confederate flag to represent
themselves. The flag was originally made in 1861 when the United States Civil War broke out
and many of the southern states broke apart. The United States makes the flag controversial with
it being the separation despite being part of a united country. With the confederate flag being
incorporated within the flag, it is promoting racism for its state. The confederate south had
fought for slaves to remain in the south during their time with the confederate flag to represent
themselves vs. the unions flag. The respect towards ancestry has led to the belief of raising the
flag as nothing more than a respect rather than an indirect attack to others. In 2015, there was a
mass shooting in a church in South Carolina. Upon further investigation to the shooting, the man
who pulled the trigger displayed his views and beliefs as the same as those back in the day of the
confederate flag. He had shown many photos of white supremacy and of the confederate flag on
his website. The flag by itself could be considered harmless while its meaning can be a
widespread emotional scar to people. While many white people could view it as a harmless piece
of heritage for their families, there were also african american families whom descended from

slaves that is a direct slap to the face when the flag is flown. During Hitlers rule in World War II
with all of the cruel and unusual punishments and crimes made, he followed with the swastika to
represent himself and the nazis. While the symbol means peace, it is banned from being flown in
Germany for its terrible history related to the jews. The views and crimes, while not as severe,
are similar yet have different outcomes for both flags. While the flag has controversial views
amongst its people, The state of Mississippi has a race count of 7 to 3 of white versus black
citizens. While significant majorities of African American southerners interpret the battle flag as
symbolic of racism and hatred, similar majorities of white southerners commonly view the flag
as symbolic of the heroic sacrifices of their ancestors during the Civil War (Black, white or
green? The confedence battle emblem and the 2001 Mississippi State Flag Referendum) The
state held vote back in 2001 was heavily influenced with both ideas yet the original flag still
stands. the flag needs to be taken down for the sake of the families it offends and the history
viewpoints behind the flag that should not be unintentionally represented amongst Mississippi.
Another problem faced with the Mississippi flag was the reason behind its creation
entirely. Originally it was made just for the separation with no intention of change once they reentered the United States. All of the states have their own state flag yet do not contain images of
controversy as Mississippi does with the confederate flag. The state flags represent themselves as
the people of each state but the confederate flag was representing a whole country from when the
confederacy separated from the union. The flag held no other purpose than for the country
formed to fight. While the flag has no country to represent today, the sheer fact of its history
dubs it as different to what the state flag represents. Unita Blackwell, the mayor of Mayersville,
Mississippi, said, "When I think about the flag I think about the Ku Klux Klan and when they
came along here burning crosses in my yard--they had that flag." (The banner that won't stay

furled) The south had been undergoing a mass amount of slave ownership and racism towards
African Americans, free or not, during the time of the creation of the flag. Whether it is of
heritage or not, the flag is representing the same beliefs as the men and women back in 1861. It
has hatred within its past unlike the other countries state flag or even the United States flag. In
today's world, the flag is a form of a history lesson to teach kids the history behind their country
and nothing more. It is not a past to forget but also not a past to continually be represented for its
violence involved with such a piece of fabric for Mississippi.
Lastly, back in 2001, there was a vote held to change Mississippis flag with very
different viewpoints amongst the different races. There was already a constant boycott for the
confederate flag itself with it being flown on its own rather than the Mississippi flag over the
statehouse. an economic boycott of the state by the National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP), agreed to move the flag to a new location next to a Confederate
memorial on the statehouse grounds (The banner that won't stay furled) While it still held the
flag within the country, it was problematic for the sake of history with the flag. The vote was set
to change the flag into a circle of stars much like the original colonies rather than have the
confederate flag. It had lost its battle of 60% vote to keep the original flag despite the mass
knowledge known about the flag from schools. The flag has a rising debate affecting only those
who are for and against; leaving out a vast majority that simply do not make any effort to stop or
promote. People only care about what affects them, but what they fail to realize is that even if it
doesn't affect them directly, it affects them in other ways and most importantly, it affects other
people and it takes us back in time like nothing ever changed. Like people didn't die and suffer
from these times in history. (UWIRE) But while there is the teachings, within the south may not
be teaching the full story but rather to their favor for the opinions of the teachers and professors.

Educators, especially in the American south, may benefit from examinations of controversies
over the US Confederate Flag in order to challenge racism in the classroom. (Race discourse
and the US Confederate Flag.) The flag needs to be educated for all the wrong and violence
ensued with the flag and be kept for just history. Heritage is something everyone values but not
always accepted into society.
In conclusion, the flag is a symbol of racism for the south regardless of the heritage held
by the citizens for the flag. Whether it is of heritage or not, the flag is representing the same
beliefs as the men and women back in 1861. The flag needs to be taken down for Mississippi in
exchange to represent them united with their country and peace reign between the people.
History has no change amongst the people for how they tell it. It is the same regardless of the
peoples opinions. The flag needs change for all the negativity it lives with forever.

Holyfield, Lori, Matthew Ryan Moltz, and Mindy S. Bradley. "Race Discourse And The US
Confederate Flag." Race, Ethnicity & Education 12.4 (2009): 517-537. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

A poll taken around a heavily dominant southern white area and university were brought together
to discuss how large of a part does racism appear to them over the confederate flag. Whether the

flag has been incorporated into the southern white identity unspokenly was brought to the
students and professors and how examining these within the classroom will benefit the south.

Leib, Jonathan I., and Gerald R. Webster. "Black, white or green? The confedence battle emblem
and the 2001 Mississippi State Flag Referendum." Southeastern Geographer 52.3 (2012): 299+.
Academic OneFile. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

With the statewide held vote being rejected in mississippi over a new flag, the article
goes in depth the the geography of the votes with the traditional model and the electoral model. It
brings insight over the value of the confederate flag within the mississippi flag. There are precise
percentages for a clear view of race versus votes cast to the flag change and why there is a high
debate still today.

Martinez, J. Michael, William D. Richardson, and Ron McNinch-Su. Confederate Symbols in the
Contemporary South. Gainesville: U of Florida, 2000. Print
Confederate symbols in the contemporary south retains to the history aspect to the root of
all symbols within the south. It discusses all of the meanings behind them and the political and
legal challenges wrapped around the symbols. There is a small hint of first person within the first
few pages but branches out to retain back to strictly history information. The information gives
perspective to the different opinions over the symbols of what is right and wrong to them.

Reed, John Shelton. "The banner that won't stay furled. (Essay)." Southern Cultures 8.1 (2002):
76+. Academic OneFile. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

The debate goes into detail for the whites and blacks over their views of the flag in their
own respective opinions. The thoughts of slavery going against what many white mississippians
believe to not be racism but history and heritage. There is a greater explanation to the white
perspective for the use of the flag and confederacy in modern culture amongst just a couple of
their reasons.

Springer, Chris. "The troubled resurgence of the Confederate flag." History Today 43 (1993): 7+.
Academic OneFile. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

The confederate flag received a mass amount of media attention for a fashion statement
and its representation to groups such as youths. Its incorporation into fashion lost its ground to
the traditional meaning. The flag is raised for a different cause but of the same reason to rebel
against authority.

"Swastikas and hate symbols on campus or downtown create unsafe environment." UWIRE Text
27 Oct. 2015: 1. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.