After being used by a Northern Virginia regiment during the war, it was adopted by hate groups that used it to terrorize blacks throughout the South after the war. The flag was also used in the 1950’s and 1960’s as a means of sending a signal to the African-American community that the governments of the South were not in favor of the civil rights movement.
Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP offers a haunting analogy:
What is next? If this government-issued license plate is approved, the board should also stand ready to approve a license plate with a swastika on it. Revisionism that tries to paint the Confederacy as a symbol of states’ rights could in the same breath repaint the Nazi regime (because after all, didn’t Hitler bring Germany out of a recession?). Both symbols are inextricably linked to horrible human atrocities, and should not be dignified by the state of Texas through a prominent feature on a state-issued license plate.
Whether individuals have a right to display the flag is an entirely separate issue from whether the government should do so on state-issued property. It is important that Texas not go the way of other states like Virginia and Florida that have lost battles trying to keep this hate-filled insignia off of their license plates.
Please send your faxes or emails to both the Commission and the State NAACP Office so they can keep tabs of the numbers who have weighed in. Recent reports indicate that there were originally 127 people who wrote in favor of the proposed new plates and 9 people who opposed. The numbers and names for the Department of Motor Vehicles is Julie Beisert (Julie.beisert@txdmv.gov), the liaison for the Board. Main number is 888-368-4689. Fax a copy of your letter to the Texas State NAACP at 512-322-0757.
Question! Why are “we” African Americans allowing whites who co-opted symbols “our” ancestors conceptualized to instill spirituality, culture and sense of self worth against “us”? Why are we oblivious to the symbolism hidden in this shroud of hate. The shroud is comprised of 13 stars in the form of the symbol “X”. This symbol, the number 13 is also significant in Christian, Mason and American ideologies: The 12 Tribes of Israel became 13 when Joseph’s inheritance was divided between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, 13 colonies of the united states, 13 stars represent the seal of Solomon. But what one must realize the time line and you would see the rest come after the Nubian concept. The letter “X” In Nubian culture is also the symbol for resurrection and the phallus combined!
The Germans used the Swastika as a symbol of hate and superiority. They actually stole it from India where the symbol actually stands for Good fortune, Good will and Good luck and is still adorned in India!
Our problem is Black is a void created by our oppressors and filled with our reactions to our circumstances. When you stand and define yourself, “NO ONE” can determine your worth or lack there of….!
Very good observations!
Instead of worrying about a dumb flag, why can’t the NAACP worry about improving the horrible conditions black people are in NOW!