The Study of Racialism

pianoplayer111 · Mentor Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 384 }

I'm back, everyone! Laughing

I thought I'd share something I found online and I wanted to know what you all thought.

Last month, I went with my fiance to visit his hometown of Eustis, Florida. He lived in Brazil in his childhood and returned to the States as a teenager with his parents who were both missionaries. He attended Eustis High School from 1984-1988. We walked around the campus a bit. The receptionist in the front office is named Mrs. Arnold. She is AA.

Eustis High was nearly all-white several years ago. I read a complaint online last year written by a 16-year-old girl named Katelynn Skillas. She said that she had been waiting for her brother to pick her up from school because she was ill. While in the front office, Mrs. Danielle Arnold noticed that Skillas (who is Caucasian) was wearing jewelry with the Confederate symbol on it. According to Skillas, Arnold became hostile and demanded that the jewelry be removed because it offended her sensibilities. She told the girl that she would call security if the jewelry was not removed immediately. Skillas complied and removed the jewelry. When she started to put it in her pocket, Arnold then confiscated it and refused to give it back. Skillas called her mother and explained the situation. Arnold spoke with the girl's mother and hung up, then accused Skillas of lying. She forbade Skillas from using her cell phone in the office but said nothing when a black student did the same.

When Skillas's brother showed up at the school, Arnold was hostile and ugly towards him as well. She seemed to feel that Skillas was racist because of Confederate symbols on her jewelry. Skillas felt that she was merely showing pride in her Southern heritage and claims to have no problem with blacks. She was so upset that she posted the email, phone number, and address of the high school online.

My question to everyone here is: what do you think? Is the Confederate image still symbolic of racism? Do you feel that this woman overreacted? Was she justified in confiscating the jewelry even after it had been removed?

Richard Miller · Posted: Mon 21 Jul 2008 16:57 Post subject:

Personally, I have no problem with it. I think that people react this way to Confederate stuff will actually cause those to have it to sport it in a racist way.

I've heard that there are AA's who sport Confederate stuff themselves to represent the "Dirty South" - in which case, only two things can come out of it - unity of all Southerners, or the taking away of racist implications of the flag. Either way, it's a win/win situation.

pianoplayer111 · Mentor Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 384 }

What's up, Richard? How are you? Smile

I didn't know that some AA's were into that. I've lived in Florida nearly all my life and it is one of the most racist states, IMO. Everyone seems to be uncomfortable with people unlike themselves.

My fiance's only positive exposure to black people in his youth came from the Brazilian kids in his childhood and one AA coworker in his teens.

I've personally seen Mrs. Arnold but never spoken with her. She was on the telephone in the office that afternoon when we went there.

I agree...that does sound like a win/win situation!

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }

Powell · Guru Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2179 }

Here's example of the use of the Confederate battle flag to promote racism:

http://cofcc.org/?p=1711

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }

Creole GAL · Experienced User Joined: 12 Mar 2007 {Posts: 183 }

I love history: the good , the bad,and the ugly. You cannot erase history(good or bad) or forget awful things because then, you can repeat them.
The Confederate States of America do not exists. There is no such country. There once was a country called The Confederate States of America. The Confedearte flag has taekn on racist terms since the days of Jim Crow and maybe even before that and that is where the problem lies.

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

DChapman · Posted: Tue 05 Aug 2008 18:48 Post subject:

DChapman · Posted: Tue 05 Aug 2008 18:52 Post subject:

Some information about HK Edgerton

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

Nelson W. Winbush, 78, of Kissimmee stands in front of the Confederate battle flag that was draped over his grandfather's coffin in 1934.
In defense of his Confederate pride

Nelson Winbush is intent on defending the flag of his grandfather. It's just surprising which flag that is.

KISSIMMEE -- Nelson Winbush rotates a miniature flag holder he keeps on his mantel, imagining how the banners would appear in a Civil War battle.
The Stars and Bars, he explains, looked too much like the Union flag to prevent friendly fire. The Confederacy responded by fashioning the distinctive Southern Cross -- better known as the rebel flag.

Winbush, 78, is a retired assistant principal with a master's degree, a thoughtful man whose world view developed from listening to his grandfather's stories about serving the South in the "War Between the States."

His grandfather's casket was draped with a Confederate flag. His mother pounded out her Confederate heritage on a typewriter. He wears a rebel flag pinned to the collar of his polo shirt.
Winbush is also black.

"You've never seen nothing like me, have you?"

____
And there's a younger generation of black radicals coming up through the post-racial Confederate ranks that I'm starting to appreciate, too!

http://blackcatbone.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

DChapman · Posted: Tue 05 Aug 2008 19:02 Post subject:

HK Edgerton on YouTube

HK Edgerton's site

Creole GAL · Experienced User Joined: 12 Mar 2007 {Posts: 183 }

Nelson Winbushif really of fof his mark here. "Honoring the flag of his father" ..what is he talking about? This flag these Confederate States of America was t okeep him and his father in bondage adn worst. He may have a master's degree. As my grandmother used to say, " An educated fool."
Has Winbush not looked in the mirror at himself ? Has he not read of the CivilWar? Did he not live through the 1950's-1960's in South U.S.A?
Oh, his father is White American and gradnfather and Winbush so they were on that side and is that Winbush'e reason? This man is very off base here and it is sad that he supports the Confederacy.

Like I said , I like history. The good, bad , and ugly of history must be learned and recognized. If it isbad history, it does not need to be applied for today.
My Frenchad Spainsh and Black ancestors were Roman Catholic. I am Catholic. I do not support the Crusades and do not want to see that happen again.
My ancestors and those of people I know could have been part or were part of the famous New Orleans Quadroon Balls. I certainly would not like to see that happend again. I have ancestors, Free people of color, who had slaves, but I certainly do want to see that happen again. Modern times, I know of people who have moved on and shunned close relatives who were honey colored, Black looking, but I do not support these people or think it is a beautiful thing.
Get my meaning. Winbush needs to go back to school on this choice of his about that flag.

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

Richard Miller · Posted: Wed 06 Aug 2008 00:17 Post subject:

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }