The Night I Found Similarities between Civil Rights Pioneers and SC Secessionists.
Because Liberals aren’t as liberal as they think.
A couple of days ago I found myself walking towards the heart of Downtown Charleston to join a counter protest going on in front of the College of Charleston’s Sottile Theater. The South Carolina Secessionist Party had scheduled a protest of the impending presentation from North Carolina based activist Bree Newsome.
Bree, the black woman noted for scaling a flag pole on the South Carolina state capital grounds and tearing down its Confederate Flag, was going to be speaking about her experiences as an activist that evening and these Secessionists planned to let her know that they were not fond of her attempts to desecrate their heritage (because CONFEDERATE FLAG = SOUTHERN PRIDE or something like that). In response, a counter protest was created to let Bree know that not everyone in the Palmetto State agreed with the sentiments of the Secessionists.
From around 6:15pm to 7:15pm I stood silently on the front lines with posters in each hand that replaced the stars of the Confederate Flag with the word “LOSER”. During that time, I heard a lot of chatter from the hundreds of counter protesters behind me.
Some of the one-liners were funny (“Stop embarrassing my racist dead ancestors!”), some not-so-funny (“Don’t say words with more than four syllables, [the Secessionist] will have a hard time understanding you!”). However, as time went on, each comment started to become cringeworthy. Not because they were especially hurtful but because with every insult (“Go home! Ya cousin’s lonely tonight!”) it became clear to me that this counter protest was becoming counter productive.
Now, I’m not about to compare the CAUSE of the Secessionists to that of those who worked to gain civil rights for black Americans. But, in that moment, I saw similarities between how we were treating the Secessionists and how racist white people treated early civil rights activist. Bear with me as I set the stage…
One one side of the street there were about four guys standing firm for what they believed in (try not to think about what they believe for the time being). Opposite of them were hundreds of people — who’s bravery, I feel, was boosted by the sheer number of folks on their side of the street — hurling insults across the police, media, and barricades that separated us.
It was there that the connection was made. I couldn’t help but think that at one point in American history, there were people like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dorothy Height who often found themselves isolated against those that opposed their ideas.
But here’s the kicker: did those threats or insults stop Rev. King and the like from believing what they believed? Or rather, did they use that as fuel to keep them pushing forward with their cause? A cause that, for those that don’t remember, flew in the face of popular opinion.
So if threats or insults — and let’s not forget stuff like fire hoses, mass arrest, police brutality, attacks from police dogs, church bombings, and lynchings — didn’t stop those freedom fighters from continuing to stand up for their beliefs, what makes us think that we can “shame” Confederate supporters into changing their point of view? If anything, we’re giving them a cause to fight for and a hill to die upon.
“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” — Malcolm X
It’s possible that in our attempts to have the Confederate flag banished to the dark recesses of history, we’re actually giving those that believe in it as a symbol for pride and heritage, a raison d’être.
Because of my “LOSER” posters I was interviewed by, and subsequently quoted in, our local newspaper. The reporter asked if I had problem with the men across the street who were holding up a massive Confederate flag. I said no, they had every right to peacefully protest. She then asked me about the inspiration behind my poster design. I told her that I wasn’t there to dispute the Secessionists’ version of the truth or argue with them about their beliefs. If they want to believe that their ancestors were patriotic super heroes who gave their life for some upstanding cause, so be it.
I said that I was just there to make sure my version of the truth was heard. “What version is that,” she asked.
That they lost.
No unprovoked insults or suggestions about which family member they may be sleeping with. Just the facts: the Confederate States lost the Civil War and no amount of heritage can change that.
While it may be personally satisfying to insult Secessionists, it makes us no better than them. It’s our bullish behavior that gives Confederate flag bearers the twinkle in their eye while their stubborn, stick-to-the-story methods is what gets us hyped. This might be the most ass backwards example of ying and yang of all time.
We can’t see the forrest because the trees are in the way. As soon as we realize that we’re all trees, maybe we’ll get somewhere.
If you like my article, please recommend it for others to see! Also, if you want to purchase a “Loser” lapel pin (a smaller version of the poster from above) visit my website CharlestonSticksTogether.com. Lastly, when I’m not writing, I’m Instagramin’ so feel free to connect with me there. Thanks…
