Should the Rebel Flag Be Displayed in Public Places?
The Confederate battle flag is a touchstone for many Southerners, especially those in formerly secessionist states. It represents their history of enslavement, inequality and violence, but it is often mythologized as an emblem of rebellious individualism. It reentered the national consciousness after the Charleston church shooting in 2015, when images of Dylann Roof carrying it emerged. Following that, multiple states bowed to pressure and removed the flag from memorials, and retailers yanked merchandise featuring it.Learn more:https://ultimateflags.com/products/rebel-flag-confederate-battle-flag-3-x-5-ft/
Controversial Symbolism: Unpacking the Rebel Confederate Battle Flag
But even for those who want to keep it on display, the debate is complicated. For those who believe it signifies heritage, a tribute to a Confederate solider or Civil War history, the “legitimate places” are museums, books and cemeteries, says historian Michael Coski. “In public places, I think it should be off limits unless you’re doing something with it to commemorate a particular person,” he says.
But most of all, Coski believes it’s essential to remember what the flag was really for. He points out that it was never just a symbol of Southern heritage, or of liberty and equality or freedom. It was always the symbol of a nation that supported slavery.