Young South Carolinians play under the hate flag this May
The people of South Carolina, most of whom are good, decent, compassionate people, are changing their minds about the Confederate flag. Many white Southerners have something with the hate flag on it; my mother went to Ole Miss and there is a hate flag charm on the charm bracelet handed down to me. It has been destroyed. People are taking down their yard flags, or maybe they are being stolen; either way, the flags are coming down. Bumper stickers are being scraped off and patches are being ripped off clothing.
Most of us have Black friends, and always have. I read the study saying only a quarter of white adults have a Black friend. I don't think that's true in the South. There's a larger proportion of Black people here. In 2015 we all go to school together, we work together, we date and marry and adopt each other, we go to church together, we play sports together, and do political activism, share houses, have real friendships. Yes, there are a lot of racists here, but it just isn't the norm. Most of them are, frankly, getting pretty old now, and younger people just aren't as racist. People like Dylann Storm Roof are rare. Most South Carolinians are pretty tolerant.
What makes us look bad, besides our whackos obviously, are our politicians, who also seem insane. There the flag flies. Nobody likes it. We all have to apologize for it. It affects our economy. It offends our brothers and sisters. It hurts the self-esteem of our children. It dismisses the terrible suffering of our forbears. It encourages and inspires dangerous and violent impulses in people. It destroys lives, and it's time to bring it down.
I know everyone over at the Statehouse are grieving right now. They are attending funerals and comforting friends. But when they return to work, I suggest their first order of business should be to bring the flag down. We, the people of South Carolina, are removing the symbols of hate which litter our private spaces. It is time for the legislature to finally remove the one in our most important public space. Bring the flag down so that we can wash the blood from our hands, the hatred from our souls, and begin the healing process.