Confederate flag is tainted by racism

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/24/confederate-flag-is-tainted-by-racism

Version 0 of 1.

I was disappointed to see Jonathan Jones debating the merits of the Confederate flag (The Confederate flag in pop culture: harmless Americana or racist symbol?, G2, 23 June).

Jones’s suggestion that the flag has previously enjoyed “a more ambiguous, apparently innocent reputation in popular culture” is a valid one. However, he has failed to consider the fact that popular culture can be, and often is, profoundly racist and exclusive. Blackface, too, once had this “apparently innocent reputation”. Popular culture deems many things acceptable that are, in reality, profoundly offensive. It is very often dominated by people with a great deal of social and financial privilege.

Jones is right in arguing that the Confederate flag is not just a symbol of racism but also of southern culture and history. Unfortunately, his argument is irrelevant. It does not matter what the Confederate flag signifies besides white supremacy and the murder and enslavement of millions of people – the fact that it is associated with the latter should outweigh the former.

It is possible to be proud of a culture that has a history of violence and segregation – but for that cultural pride to be acceptable, those issues have to be addressed. As the events of this month have shown, the brutal racism of the antebellum south is not a thing of the past. Until it is, the Confederate flag will remain an unacceptable symbol of white supremacy.Oscar SapperEdinburgh

• At Leeds festival seven years ago, Beth Ditto (then of the Gossip) repeatedly expressed bafflement at seeing a Confederate flag being waved by a fan. My friend Nick waded through the crowd and, after attempting persuasion, snapped the flagpole, leaving Dixie in the mud. Let us hope there is no need for direct action to stop this year’s festival-goers at Glastonbury, Reading or Leeds buying and waving Confederate flags.Dominic RaynerLeeds