Confederate flag reminds of slavery movements


As we celebrate Juneteenth locally and around the United States, we celebrate freedom and human rights.

"Juneteenth is one of the oldest celebrations commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The event marks the anniversary of freedom for black slaves in Texas who found out more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation that they had been freed" (St. Cloud Times, June 16).

Juneteenth's history revolves around President Lincoln, the Confederate States of America and the American Civil War. Part of that history also revolves around the controversies swirling around the Confederate Flag.

U.S. history

Growing up in Southeast Asia, I did not have the opportunity to learn about American history. I had no knowledge of slavery in the United States. All I can remember was reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe when I was about 8 years old. I remember crying my eyes out over the story of Topsy, who was my age.

Looking back, I can understand a child's reaction to reading, for example, about how Topsy had been physically abused and how she had "never been spoken to so kindly and gently in all her life. For a minute she looked as if she were going to cry. The next she was grinning as usual in her ugly way." At that time, I did not have the tools to see the racial oppression and degradation of African-Americans as part of the institution of U.S. slavery.

I really only started learning about the history of African-Americans and slavery when I studied human relations at St. Cloud State University and then went on to teach those issues. Interestingly, there were American students who had little information or were misinformed. For example, "Lincoln freed the slaves" is not an accurate statement. His 1862 Emancipation Proclamation was a political tactic and only applied to slaves in the Confederate states. It did not outlaw slaves nor make ex-slaves American citizens. Only in December 1865, did the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolish slavery.

In 1862, Texas did not comply with the Emancipation Proclamation and slaves remained slaves. Union soldiers were able to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation only after the Confederacy fell in 1865 and all the remaining slaves were freed. That was on June 19, and hence the term "Juneteenth."

Reaction to flag

The Confederate flag, the battle flag used by the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, is certainly part of history. Tragically, more than 3 million men fought in that battle and more than 600,000 died, more than other wars that involved America.

To add more salt to bitter wounds, the Confederate flag or the "Southern Cross" was appropriated by the Klu Klux Klan and other racist hate groups during the civil rights movement to oppose desegregation. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than 500 extremist groups use the Southern Cross as one of their symbols.

To many patriotic people in the United States, the burning of the American Stars and Stripes, causes strong emotional reactions. In a similar vein, the symbol of the Confederate flag is more than a symbol of Southern pride; it is seen as a symbol of oppression and can cause equally painful reactions. Here in Central Minnesota, the Confederate flag is seen on vehicles and in certain establishments. Americans have the freedom to choose their expressions but in its nostalgia of the past, is it part of the culture and climate not to see or understand other perspectives?

The Confederate flag continues to evoke a negative visceral reaction for a significant part of our population. It continues to remind us of the violent pro-slavery movements of white supremacy and hatred of groups who have been marginalized or ostracized from society.

This is the opinion of Hedy Tripp, a social justice activist, Asian-American and immigrant from Singapore. Her column is published the fourth Monday of the month.

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