Board of Education court ruling marked the dawn of desegregation in America. South Carolina raised the Confederate flag above their state house a short time after the sentence; the brief time period between the two events led many to believe the gesture was the states reaction to desegregation. Many were offended by the exhibit and confused as to whether the flag responded to desegregation or honored the states membership in the confederacy. The erection of the Confederate flag was a reaction preponderantly to desegregation and should be lowered as soon as possible. Seeing the Confederate flag flying above a governmental edifice inflicts an incredible amount of pain on many of Americas citizens. Emett Burns, an African-American involved in the NAACP, spoke of his view on the Confederate flags raising: It [the flag] says to me If I could put you in your place, I would. (qtd in Schaiver) The NAACP finds the flag offensive and explained their views on it with frustration, saying enough is enough. Mims, an African-American 42 year old disabled paper worker announced his view upon the flag It is like the Germans and the Jews--they are trying to eliminate us. (qtd in Burritt) In a recent legal case, the state of Maryland argued the flag to be, hostile, racially divisive and a symbol of bigotry and racial degradation. (qtd in Jefferson 22)While some are unbelievably upset by the flag, others are experiencing feelings of Southern and Civil War pride. Angel Quintero and Sherman Evans own a clothing line and use the Confederate flag as their logo. Both are, surprisingly and ironically, African-American citizens. The flag features red, green, and black, the African-American liberation colors, they say. (qtd in Leopold) Collin Pulley, the Chairman of the Heritage Defense Committee of the Sons of Confederate Veterans sees the issue simply; he says, Everything Ive seen indicates the flags were changed for the Civil War Centennial. ...
