Imagine driving on a state route in an area that you’ve never driven with not much in the way of commercial businesses, not a lot of other automobile traffic, and few options for roadside assistance.
Then imagine seeing a rebel battle flag and wondering if this is one of those ‘sundown’ towns that you need to be out of before it gets too late? Or what might happen if your car breaks down? Or why, in 2021, you need to rely on the potential decency of other whites in the area to make it safely to your destination?
I don’t have to imagine. These were my thoughts on two successive days while driving in western Pennsylvania.
Yes, there are other ways one could explain/minimize the presence of these flags I.E. ignorance of history (flying the flags of the traitorous losers), or ignorance in general. But I’m a Black man who has watched the republican party gleefully associate itself with white-supremacist to further their agenda and expand their base. From where I sit, ignorance seems like a woefully inadequate explanation for an action that appears to show clear intent.
And it’s no coincidence that the rebel flag was accompanied by the trump flag. After all, trump was both a racist and standard-bearer for the republican party. The pairing of these two flags is deliberate and meant to send a clear message.
That message? If you are white, you are welcome to be here. If you’re a republican, you are welcome here. If you want to continue the progress made for white people under the trump/pence administration, you are welcome here.
The converse? If you aren’t white, you’re not welcome here. If you’re a Democrat, you’re not welcome here. And, in my heart of hearts as I felt while driving, “if you’re Black, you need to keep driving and hope your car doesn’t break down”.
It should be noted that in addition to my fear and discomfort at seeing these flags, I also felt angry. Very angry. Even though racism is inherent in nearly every aspect of our country’s past, there’s something patently wrong in 2021about the unification of our highest political offices with the racism inherent in that traitorous and vile flag. Moreover, the need to hang symbols that define both your political affiliation AND your racism is almost pathological.
Many likely won’t agree with my assessment of this situation, or with my thoughts on the pairing of the rebel flag with the equally traitorous trump flag. Rather than (justifiably) flipping off that entire group, I’ll instead simply ask them for a modicum of empathy.
Last year was a breaking point for Blacks in America with systemic racism and police violence. We marched peacefully and were threatened with beatings, tear gas, and rubber bullets. In response, trump wanted to shoot protestors, the gop became the anti-BLM party, and police killings have continued unabated.
Against that backdrop, I ask that group of folks who don’t agree with my assessment to put themselves in my shoes and ask themselves how they might feel if they found themselves in the same situation. If they are decent human beings, they will understand the immense discomfort and maybe – just maybe – try to affect a change with the casual acceptance of white supremacy in their own lives.
If they are empathy-challenged and want to answer that question with anything other than an understanding of my fear or anger, then… 🖕🏾
We’re long past the point where casual acceptance of white supremacy can be tolerated. Or rather, I am long past the point where casual acceptance of white supremacy will be tolerated.
You should be too.
I think your assessment is accurate. What’s more, my experience is that the same people who raise flags like that tend to pride themselves on Patriotism. Flying the flag of an opposing group (both of them) that legally and legitimately lost a conflict is the absolute opposite of being Patriotic. Your article caught my attention for the use of the word “casual” acceptence. In my case it’s not casual. I see a world where something as blatant as insurrection by White Supremacists (and sympathizers) on a Federal building yields no consequences. I’m lost to know what I can do.