Preserving History or Hatred; The Confederate Battle Cross Emblem

WABE’s Rose Scott has two reports on the use of the confederate emblem and why it carries a lot of history and embodies a lot of emotion.

Broadcast version of part one.

When it comes to American history, arguably the most divisive topic is any issue that deals racism, slavery and the south.

Georgia native Ray McBerry has heard criticism about the use of the confederate battle cross symbol, but what he calls the truth, he says is overlooked.

“That’s because of a misunderstanding or a lack of understanding about the true history of symbol and our heritage.”

That heritage says McBerry belongs too many and is not exclusive to whites.

“We have black members, we also have Hispanic members and we have Jewish members.”

McBerry is spokesperson for the Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He says neither the national nor state chapter is a group advocating racist views, but one that preserves cultural and heritage.

And he says, “Many of the black southerners from Georgia would be [maybe] surprised that many of them may have confederate ancestors.”

McBerry says it’s unfortunate and disturbing that the confederate emblem was hijacked by racist groups such as the KKK.

WABE showed the specialty license plate design to southerner Brenda Bynum.

She agreed the confederate symbol is a part of southern history, but in her opinion, for the wrong reason.

“I associate it also with ignorant yahoos who have hijacked it for their own purposes and I resent that.”

Dining with Bynum is Mississippi native Marian Gordon.

She says the confederate symbol reminds her of the KKK and how it was used in protest of integration and civil rights.

And for William Bedgood just looking at the confederate symbol was unsettling.

He says it represents a dark and ugly time for the south

“And this new tag, which is interesting that the state is now offering, is just another throwback to the insults people have to endure on a daily basis in the south. It’s repulsive and it’s inexcusable.”

Atlantan Dave Rucker says has a different viewpoint.

“Just because I don’t agree with it, doesn’t mean I won’t defend somebody’s right to express themselves.”  

Ray McBerry with Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans says ten dollars of the sale of the specialty license plates will go towards projects to preserving and restoring monuments in the state.

Governor Nathan Deal is downplaying any notion the confederate emblem on a state specialty license plate is worth debate.

Broadcast version of part two.

Do you see what I see, may be the best way to define how Governor Nathan Deal and Professor Georgeanne Thomas feel about the confederate symbol.

“I think it is an acknowledgment of our history and our culture,” says Deal.

“It was associated with the Klan for me and other hate groups,” says Thomas.

Professor Thomas teaches at Clark Atlanta University and Atlanta Metropolitan State College.

A Spelman College alumna, Thomas was featured in a documentary about her class that participated in protests for civil rights.

“For me it’s a symbol associated with the southern cultural of racism, whether it was doing the Atlanta Student Movement or enslavement, but for me it was always been a symbol of hatred.”

Governor Deal, a native Georgian, says the use of the confederate emblem is not new.

“I was asked that question. I was sort of caught a little bit off guard because I hadn’t seen what the new plate looked like, but there had already been a plate that had the square symbol of the old flag. This one is a little bit of a different variation on it.”