You can tell me all you'd like that it's about heritage and that it's no big thing, but every time I see the confederate flag I am reminded of a history that destroyed people that look like me and still find us inferior. So you can imagine how I've been feeling a little more recently with the showings of this sign of "heritage."
Don't get me wrong. I grew up in a town where kids I walked down the hall with, ate with, laughed with wore such shirts. They rocked the sign on their monster trucks and were affectionately known as (proud) rednecks. I didn't feel hate, per se. But I tried never to make an issue of it either...And I was not alone. It was what it was.
This weekend I was intentionally enjoying idle time, watching a little trash television with wholesome naps in between. If you recall, my "trash" t.v. is that good ol' reality stuff. There's this show on cable where young ppl are engaged and getting married. In 30 minutes viewers watch the drama from the family and complications/obstables of the couple as they prepare to marry. This particular episode was a live show with the couple getting married in Times Square. They had done some taping prior to the show and were flashing to their homes when in the background of one shot I see this HUGE confederate flag pinned up on the wall. And, I have one of those "ah ha" moments: Why on earth am I watching this? Supporting these two that have likely used the "N" word and don't know anything about people that look like me...and likely don't want to know...
I turned the channel disgusted and Lifetime became the channel for the weekend. Well, on Monday evening I'm feeling awfully good about my craving for salad. I drive over to Chick-fil-A and get one of their garden salads. As I am pulling out, I am now behind this tight two seater, but clear as day is not one but TWO confederate flag bumper stickers. I become mad with a quickness. WTF???!!! I don't cuss people...really I don't. So feeling this way I knew I needed to calm it down. Luckily, my cell phone rang and I was able to vent and pour out to bring it down -- Thanks, friend!
Anyway, it's kept me in a most reflective mood, and I'm all the more sensitive to everything I see and hear. To end this entry, I leave you with two different links that put a spin or perspective on some things. There is a lot more I want to type just in scratching the surface on youth--black youth--and this topic; however, I must give more than a surface scratching so it'll have to wait for another evening and entry...No fear: it'll come. If not on here, definitely on that dissertation that will give me the title Doctor! LOL...Chew on that.
NOTE: Both of these links are graphic in language and/or content.
Link 1 - O'Reilly's Throwing a Lynching Party:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/star-jones/bill-oreillys-throwing-_b_88115.html?page=10
Link 2 - Abolish the "N" Word
http://www.abolishthenword.com/
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