Black College Student Wins Fight to Display Confederate Flag in Dorm Room

THEBLAZE ^ | Posted on December 2, 2011 | Madeleine Morgenstern

[OL Hickory]

A black college student has won the fight to keep a Confederate flag in his dorm room after school officials initially told him to take it down.

“It’s not racist for me,” Thomas, a Georgia native, said in the video. “All it is is a symbol that I see as a sign of respect, and people don’t want to see it that way.”

[BykrBayb]

Then I guess they wouldn’t want to see this website.. http://blackcowboys.com

[warsaw44]

Back when I traveled a bit for work I was driving through Walpole Massachusetts. Not exactly the deep south to say the least but there were Confederate flags on everything: cars, in shop windows, flags etc.

Craziest thing this Yankee could imagine seeing and I figured there must be a lot of Southerns who had moved North. Then I drove by the Walpole High School which had “ Home of The Rebels “ on the side of the facade and a Confederate flag flying in front. Mystery solved.

[bunkerhill7]

On our high school 1960 Senior Trip, we went to, among other places, Gettysburg, where one could buy Confederate flags and hats with the Confederate flag in front I got mine.

[skeeter]

Back then Frontierland featured indians attacking a pioneer & shooting him full of arrows. As a tyke I personally manned a log blockhouse and picked off a half dozen indians with a Winchester 73 popgun.

It was a different world.

[Windflier]

Southerners are supposed to be ashamed of their heritage, especially if they’re black.

I'm a black man pushing 60, and I can attest that what you say is correct. My entire family tree goes back to the Deep South, at least into the mid 1800s. I've got white ancestors who fought on both sides of the Civil War, and of course I have ancestors who were slaves (even some slave owners).

One of my ancestors was the author of the Crittenden Compromise. Some family members of my generation disown the man, because they disagree with that document. Can't say that I'm all that proud of it, either, but family is family in my mind. Even if they were long deceased before you were born. Those are my roots, for good or bad.

[neocon1984]

Pretty soon, we will hear accusations that he has sexually harassed multiple white women who are not only blonde, but have terrible FICO scores.

[tanknetter]

Back in the early 1960s, Disneyland had hundreds of children’s Confederate kepis (hats) for sale with the Confederate battle flag on top.

Back in the early 60s Disney was still acknowledging that they'd made an animated movie called "Song of the South".

[BykrBayb]

I know all about that. Family is family, for good or bad. I have ancestors I’m very proud of, and some I’m ashamed of. I have some family that I’m both proud and ashamed of at the same time. What can you do? It is what it is.

[Windflier]

They have disowned you - I got a FReepmail - they are trying to tell you - but you won’t listen;)

LOL! That's truer than you know!

[Windflier]

blackcowboys.com

Cool website. Just goes to show that you can find anything on the web.

[Inyo-Mono]

Family is family. One of my great-grandfathers fought for the CSA while his younger brother joined the Union. They were western Virginians and second cousins to Stonewall Jackson. My great-grandfather’s brother was denied a $5 a month pension by the War Dept. because his brother fought for the Confederates.

[PoloSec]

WOW...could it be that people are once again, learning what it means to be American, what an example this young man, I think so, first and foremost one should be proud to be American. The message is getting through despite political correctness, despite concentrated anti American school curriculum's, etc...One Nation Under God Indivisible With Liberty and Justice for All,... the truth does not die.

[sodpoodle]

Have long appreciated your writing skills on FReeper threads. Your family history is fascinating and I wonder if you have ever considered authoring a book on such an accomplished and diverse group of ancestors?

It would be a great read.

[Windflier]

I have ancestors I’m very proud of, and some I’m ashamed of. I have some family that I’m both proud and ashamed of at the same time. What can you do? It is what it is.

We're sufficiently removed in time from that horrible episode in our nation's history, that I don't feel any sense of shame for the politics and social mores of my ancestors. They were people of their age, and were embarking on a learning experience that would come to reshape the whole nation.

I haven't done the research, but I'd willing to bet that my grandfather four generations removed, went to his death bed regretting the compromise he authored. He may even have known that he had a couple of mulatto grandchildren, before he died.

[Windflier]

One of my great-grandfathers fought for the CSA while his younger brother joined the Union.

Same thing happened with my G-G-G grandfather and his brother. Interestingly, I have the same schism with some of my own brothers now.

[Windflier]

One Nation Under God Indivisible With Liberty and Justice for All,... the truth does not die.

Amen. May it ever be so.

[Windflier]

Geez, Sod, yer makin me blush :-)

Your family history is fascinating and I wonder if you have ever considered authoring a book on such an accomplished and diverse group of ancestors?

I've actually considered it. It's something that I hope to do after I retire. My dad has done decades of research into the family tree, so I've got a tremendous amount of leads to start from.

Thank you for the kind words.

[sodpoodle]

You BLUSH??????????????????????????

Gotcha!!!

[Windflier]

You BLUSH??????????????????????????

Gotcha!!!

Dammit. I just knew that was coming .. LOL

[sodpoodle]

I still luv yah;)

p.s. hurry up with the chronicles - I’m old and barely hangin’ on.