PODCASTING
-I am in the processing of editing the introductory script to better represent the slavery context of the battle of Sabine Pass (including information about the slaves who built the fort, the concentration of blacks along E. Texas, and the significance of the battle for slaves)
-I am researching information about the history of Tuam Street, Dowling Street, and Emancipation Park in order to create a podcast about how celebration of confederate heroes can conflict with the importance of emancipation.
-I hope to complete both scripts by saturday to begin recording
APPROPRIATE CIVIL WAR CELEBRATION
As was cautioned with our discussion on reconstruction, it is important to avoid evaluating history using our anachronistic ideals and opinions. However, it is clear that the way in which we choose to remember history has a direct effect our current social relations and politic ideologies. For instance, if Southern children are not taught about the enduring negative effects of slavery alongside the sacrifice of their ancestors, how can we expect them to interpret the existing problems of racial inequality in any way other than in racially biased terms? In contrast, the perceptions of history are also largely shaped by the political and social interests of different groups. For example, if it is in the interests of white Southerners to maintain a dominant position over African Americans, they could do so by deemphasizing the historical importance of slavery in the Confederate cause. Because of these conditions, it is important that we take care in how we choose to celebrate, remember, or even forget the significance of the Civil War . Unfortunately, many Civil War historical societies, such the Sons of Confederate Veterans, consistently downplay the tragic context of slavery when passing their history from one generation to the next. Although they claim only the benevolent intention of honoring the sacrifices of their kin, these groups are actually perpetuating a view of the Civil War that serves to deepen the divide of racial conflict. To appropriately honor their forbearers, Southerners need to come to terms with the racially supremacist actions and beliefs of the Confederacy. Because of the damaging nature of these values to Confederate heritage, it is unlikely that Southerners will ever celebrate the Confederacy in a way that is appropriate given the resilient negative impact of slavery.
To appropriately remember their Confederate past, Southerners must acknowledge that slavery played a large role in Confederate secession, as well as soldier ideology during the war. Yet, Tony Horwitz found that many Southerners view the Confederate cause in a far different perspective. Because Tarlton, one of Horwitz’s interviewees, knew his soldiering ancestors did not own any slaves, he assumed that they fought the Union because they “felt oppressed by the government” and to preserve “their honor as men” (Horwitz 35). Although, many soldiers did fight for Southern honor and individual rights, Chandra Manning provides evidence that “the most powerful motivator” for Southerners to fight was the “certainty that they must fight to prevent the abolition of slavery” (Manning 138). However, the reason many Southerners fail to accept this view of the Civil War is because it presents the Southern effort as malevolent rather than honorable. Confederate heritage groups try hard to combat this malevolent image because it could serve to damage their interest in maintaining white southern status. For example, if “Color Sergeant” Mike Hawkins was forced to acknowledge that slavery was the mainstay of the Confederate cause, it would be morally questionable for him “salute the Confederate flag with…undying devotion to the cause for which it stands” (Horwitz 23-24). An appropriate celebration of Confederate heritage should focus on the sacrifices that Southerners made to support a cause that they believed in, but should concede that the cause does not align with the modern value of liberty for all.
Additionally, Southerners should recognize the importance of the Civil War as a means to an end for slavery. By acting like the Civil War is still in “half-time” (Horwitz 22), Confederate heritage groups are ignoring the most important outcome of the Civil War, emancipation. It is inappropriate to celebrate the Confederacy without acknowledging that its victory would have meant a prolonged enslavement for millions of blacks. Additionally, heritage societies need to recognize the violently oppressive actions of their “Confederate Heroes.” Instead of quizing followers as to “how many horses did Nathan Bedford forest have shot from under him” (Horwitz 25) during SCV trivia night, a more appropriate trivia question should be, “which terrorist organization did Forest lead to violently oppress black liberty following emancipation?” The reason these heritage groups have to constantly defend themselves by saying “I’m not prejudice” (Horwitz 39) or have to meet in secret (Horwitz 43) is because the Confederate effort to prolong slavery is directly in contrast with modern society’s strong disapproval of slavery. Therefore, Southerners who wish to celebrate the Civil War can discuss the bravery and sacrifice of their forbearers; they must also address how a Confederate victory would have been detrimental for millions of black slaves.
Because of the damaging effects of slavery, the tragically racialized context of our society and the South’s role in oppressing blacks, there is a very small window in which the Confederate effort should be positively celebrated. However, this is not to undermine the incredible human sacrifice that Southerners put into doing what they believed was right. Although most of the hundreds of thousands of Confederate soldiers fought to preserve slavery, many also fought for Southern values that are still held with importance today. Those Confederate values should be celebrated, but not outside of the context of slavery in which they existed. We must take caution to address the context of slavery in the Civil War; the ramifications of not doing so would entail more than just offending political correctness, they can also have very real effects on race relations in the future.