Take Down That Flag...

Unlike South Africa, America has never had a day of reckoning, if you will. We have never had anything close to resembling a Truth & Reconciliation Commission or anything of the like. Perhaps, just perhaps, the good that will come from those peaceful, devoutly Christian and incredibly forgiving Black folks in Charleston, SC will be that America might come to terms with some of the lingering effects of her tainted past. Perhaps these mourning Families have paved a way to allow that some of America's wounds that cause such discomfort and conjure such painful memories for so many will begin to heal...  

Not only is there finally serious talk about bringing down the divisive and defeated confederate flag, retail outlets like Walmart & Amazon will stop selling products displaying the flag, also there is talk of changing names on street signs, buildings and the like that suggest honor to those who served to terrorize Black Americans and others in the name of defending the south. This is good. If you recall when I was in South Africa in 2013 I wrote about that country doing the exact same thing, In Pretoria they were changing names on street signs that celebrated persons who terrorized Blacks or who held prominent public office during apartheid. I applauded those efforts and questioned when America would examine herself through a similar lens.

While I believe in my heart that partly this drive to "take down that flag" is motivated by some who desire to deflect from calls for gun control in America after yet another horrific act of senseless killing, I think also that the strong faith and willingness of Black victims to forgive a young, clearly deranged, admittedly racist and unquestionably diabolical White man so soon after his commission of the most horrific of acts, compelled others to step forward and meet them in their place of integrity and serenity and offer up the defeated confederate flag to help soothe the pain in the hearts of the Families and as an offer of peace to the community and the nation. It is history repeating itself.

Much like the international broadcasting of horrific acts committed against peaceful Blacks in the 1960's, including a church bombing, prompted a national response and raised the consciousness of America to rectify the atrocities of the south, again we find ourselves in the same predicament. Too much is happening and being broadcast around the world about race relations in America for us to continue to ignore the elephant in the room who is trampling us while we try to pretend he does not exist. Everywhere I go folks assume, for a variety of reasons but mostly because of effective marketing of a false image, that racism no longer exists in America. There is an assumption that America is the face of democracy, equal opportunity for all and certainly that she has dealt with and resolved her past... But here we are again, more than 50 years later, being prompted again, maybe shamed, by the power of the media exposing in full color for all to see, the truth of our dirty little secret, that racism and hate for some is alive and well in the good ole' US of A. Again, the world sees Black southerners respond to the worst of mankind with incredible bravery, peacefulness, resilience, dignity, honor and valor. It appears again too that America is prepared to take steps to respond in kind. This is a good thing...  

Finally, 150 years later, it might become unpopular and unacceptable to fly the confederate flag.
Finally, mainstream America is willing to be critical and not just sit back and say "it is not my problem" while ignoring the symbolism, fear and pain conjured up for so many by the mere sight of the defeated confederate flag...
Finally, America just might start reckoning. It's about time..

Emanuel AME, thank you for your strong and abiding faith incredible to many, and thank you Charleston and others for following their lead. There is hope for a changing of times...

Now let's shut down the plantations that have been turned into bed & breakfast inns. That too is symbolic of incredible insensitivity. I'm Just Sayin'... A blog for another time...