A bit of housekeeping. There is nothing particularly Southern about White Supremacy in the US. Northerners owned slaves, perpetuated stereotypes, and carried out horrific acts of brutality.
That being said, the states of the Confederacy are going to be the focus of this diary thanks to a masterful piece of writing from Ta-Nehisi Coates at The Atlantic from 2015 . Coates took a deep dive into the documents secession to examine exactly why they seceded. It comes down to keeping, and expanding, slavery.
This is one of those diaries where I plead with you to read the original piece and don’t bother with my words. For those who need help to decide of the link is worth it, I offer some synopsis.
But first, a word from our sponsors ...
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there’s this from Mississippi’s causus belli and reason for secession
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery—the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin…
or this from Alabama
Therefore it is that the election of Mr. Lincoln cannot be regarded otherwise than a solemn declaration, on the part of a great majority of the Northern people, of hostility to the South, her property and her institutions—nothing less than an open declaration of war—for the triumph of this new theory of Government destroys the property of the South, lays waste her fields, and inaugurates all the horrors of a San Domingo servile insurrection, consigning her citizens to assassinations, and her wives and daughters to pollution and violation, to gratify the lust of half-civilized Africans.
So here’s the thing, slavery was the entire reason for secession. Slaves represented the largest collection of wealth in the country. Slavery was the economic engine of the entire Confederacy. Slavery, that is, predicated upon White Supremacy and Black subjugation.
But this is where things get slightly interesting. The Confederacy was certain that the rest of the world would support the cause. But it turns out that the institution of slavery was a bit much for other nations to support. Thus the evolution of the “states’ rights” argument.
This from a Richmond, VA newspaper
‘The people of the South,’ says a contemporary, ‘are not fighting for slavery but for independence.’ Let us look into this matter. It is an easy task, we think, to show up this new-fangled heresy — a heresy calculated to do us no good, for it cannot deceive foreign statesmen nor peoples, nor mislead any one here nor in Yankeeland. . . Our doctrine is this: WE ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE THAT OUR GREAT AND NECESSARY DOMESTIC INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY SHALL BE PRESERVED, and for the preservation of other institutions of which slavery is the groundwork.
States’ Rights of course led to the Lost Cause ethos. But there can be no serious argument that any effort to preserve the legacy of the Confederacy is not about slavery and White Supremacy.
Very simply, it is a heritage of hate.
TOP COMMENTS
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
[Note: Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures tonight were formatted and included in John’s wonderful diary by me, brillig. All errors are mine alone.]
From Eyesbright:
[Top Comments regrets the oops that prevented this from appearing in last night’s diary, and per her request we are including her nomination comment in full here]
Anyone who follows Top Comments can see that readership is low - and not getting any better. There is no doubt in my mind that the prime reason for that is that many people don't even know about Top Comments. My suggestion is part of my answer to Blue Boomer's "thank you" about her Top Comment from yesterday [and which I am nominating for tonight]:
"I think everyone who makes it in to Top Comments needs to be told and provided the link so that it’s easy to find!!"
We have so few Top Comments that it's an easy, quick task (and it's gratifying to see how pleased many people are to be directed to the recognition and praise of their writing).
From kamachanda:
This comment by BlackSheep1 in Murfster35’s The Mutiny Of "The Bounty" should be a top comment. No idea how to nominate. [brillig here: I shared how to do so as a reply!]
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 3rd 2020, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures
Top Pictures for yesterday, July 3rd 2020. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!