Trump Minion Calls Black Southern Representative ‘Ignorant’ About Confederate Flag

The story of a huge Confederate flag unfurling in the stands of a Trump rally broke the other day, and, of course, Donald Trump’s minions scurried out the next day to talk about the event.

One such minion, Kayleigh McEnany, tried to push the old, tired trope that the flag is not a racist symbol, but rather a symbol of “Southern Pride.”

Trump’s Lackey Calls Black Panelist ‘Ignorant’ About Confederate Flag

In an interview on CNN, McEnany stated that she felt the man who brought the flag wasn’t racist, but rather someone who was simply displaying his “Southern Pride.” She shared the panel with Bakari Sellers, who represented South Carolina’s 90th district in the State House of Representatives from 2006-2014. Sellers remarked,

“I thought that Brandon – I believe that was the gentleman’s name – gave a very ignorant statement about the facts and the history of the Confederacy. This wasn’t just a battle of North versus South; this was a battle of my ancestors trying to be free from the bounds and shackles of slavery. And I understand that that ignorance is very pervasive. And I’m very appreciative, actually, of Donald Trump’s advance staff taking the steps to try to get that symbol removed because it is offensive to so many. So I would just hope that Brandon takes a moment to educate himself and attempt to empathize with others around him … My hope is that that type of vestige of hate can be put away forever.”

McEnany responded by saying that his characterization was “unfair” and that,

“To call every person ignorant who has that flag, I think that is really kind of an ignorant statement in and of itself.”

No, Kayleigh. It’s not. Mr. Sellers is 100 percent correct.

Yes, The Confederate Flag Is Racist

You can twist it any way you like, but that flag started out as the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. And what was that army fighting for? Slavery. Oh yes, people like to come up with all sorts of reasons for the Civil War that DOESN’T involve slavery. However, as my Civil War-expert college professor once told us in a class devoted entirely to the Civil War – all of those reasons came down to slavery.

Creigh Farinas, writing for the Everyday Feminism website, put it this way:

“…Mere Southern pride, by itself, shouldn’t represent a threat to all the people of color in the south who’ve experienced racial discrimination and oppression.”

She goes on to say,

“That flag is a symbol of the “good old days” for many people – a time of economic lucrativeness and comfort, at least for white plantation owners, and job stability for the white people they employed.

But those “good” days were terrible days for people of color, especially Black people, whose expense that comfort came at. Nostalgia for those times is nostalgia for times of slavery.

This flag is a symbol of terror for many people, and even if you haven’t experienced that terror, that doesn’t make it any less real for others.”

I also always find it interesting when people who tend to shout “USA! USA!” every chance they get and who want to “make America great again” fly a flag that represents one of the most treasonous acts ever carried out in this country.

Article III, Section 3, of the Constitution:

“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”

Image from author's personal files
Image from author’s personal files

Southern Pride Is OK – Confederate Pride Is Not

You can be proud of your town or your state without openly embracing a symbol that is hurtful to so many people. Relish in the things that make your state or your region unique and wonderful, rather than flying a relic of hate.

Image is a screengrab from video.

Carrie is a progressive mom and wife living in the upper Midwest.