Sam Granados

ERWC Period: 3

Ms. Frederick

1 June 2017
We Must Come Together

Todays America is completely different from how it was in the 1950s. Women have the

right to vote, gay marriage is legal, we finally had our first black president, the list can go on.

Although these are big changes, there are still actions that America needs to take to make our

country stronger and more accepting. Racism has been in America since the start of the country;

in the beginning of it all African American men and women were seen as less than. From then we

have tried to settle this issue with giving all races equal rights. The sad thing is, is that after all

these years some of us still dont fully accept all races to be equal. In todays world there are

houses or cars that are holding up a very offensive sign that represents racist America. This sign

is the confederate flag. The confederate flag being flown in the air is a sign of hate for most

people and for the ones that it is not, its a sign of freedom. There are endless reasons on why

this flag should be taken down because of its true meaning.

In mid summer of the year 2015 there was a massacre in Charleston, South Carolina

where nine African American churchgoers were murdered by a white gunman. As the gunman

was being arrested and taken out of the church he held up the confederate flag as a sign of

victory. This horrible attack began the issue with the confederate flag. After this hate crime

occurred every flag around America was lowered to half-staff. As all the flags were going down

half way out of respect for the lives of these victims there was one flag still standing tall. The

confederate flag wasnt able to be lowered due to it being padlocked in place. Our country started

to debate whether the flag should just be taken down in general due to its racist background. The

confederate flag was later known to be not even be a flag for the confederate states in America

(Hanson). There was no reason for it to still be hung in the air. This issue angered communities
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Ms. Frederick

1 June 2017
in South Carolina. People began saying that it was their right to keep the flag up due to all its

history. Southerners see this flag as a symbol of their heritage and pride and believe that it should

stay that way. What they dont see is that at the time when the flag was being hung slavery still

existed and was a part of their history and pride (Taylor). The history of the civil war was

what they said the flag represented but some thought this was far from the truth.

This country already has a big issue dealing with racism and how to keep away from it.

In the past this flag couldve stood for southern history and their heritage but this is not the case

anymore. Last November our country elected a new president. President Trump has had speeches

that dont represent equality in America; his speeches if anything are dividing us apart. Since his

election there has been over 1000 racist attacks. (Slate Staff). That is not a low number; that

number is disgustingly high. Due to our new president there is less respect for certain races and

with this confederate hanging from random houses or trucks it isnt making anything better. This

country is becoming more and more separated as days pass. This flag is a symbol of hate in

todays day and age and we all need to realize this. The flag does indeed have history behind it

but history is for museums and books. The flag can represent the Souths heritage in one of their

museums; where it wont symbolize hate and discrimination as much. We need to see how this

flag is only the start of our new divided country and see how it is only standing up for one soul

purpose. Subconsciously this flag is one peoples property for a specific reason.

The way we can start becoming a united country once again starts with this flag. The

southerners need to accept the fact that this flag doesnt just symbolize the struggles and battles

that their ancestors went through. This flag now stands for racism and hate against a certain race
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Ms. Frederick

1 June 2017
and nothing else. This flag is tainted with the hate crime that was committed in 2015 and all the

ones after. It is understandable that some might be angry with this decision but they must see the

bigger picture and understand that all these hate crimes arent a joke. There are lives being taken

due to racist acts. No the flag isnt the cause of all the acts but it standing nice and tall is a taunt

for all that see it as a hate symbol. The flag needs to be taken down and put in a history museum

and that is all. This flag has gone through too many intense controversial discussions where it

wont be seen as anything else but a racist symbol.

There is no denying that this flag is a heated discussion topic. This flag has had its time

shining in all its glory in South Carolina but needs to be put to rest. As we continue further as a

country we all must be able to think equally. There can be times where we wont see things in the

same way but as long as we make decisions that arent inflicting hate or abuse to anyone we will

be fine. We just need time to work on how we express ourselves and our thoughts. This flag

being taken down will be a whole new start for us; which is what this country needs.

Work Cited

Ferdman, Roberto A. "What the Confederate Flag Really Means to America Today, According to

a Race Historian." The Washington Post. WP Company

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/19/what-the-confederate-flag-really-

means-to-america-today-according-to-a-race-historian/?utm_term=.8bc6640026b7

Hanson, Hilary. "Why The Confederate Battle Flag Is Even More Racist Than You Think."The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/confederate-flag-racist_n_7639788.html
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Ms. Frederick

1 June 2017

Taylor, Jessica. "The Complicated Political History Of The Confederate Flag." NPR. NPR, 22

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/22/416548613/the-complicated-political-

history-of-the-confederate-flag