Confederate Statues and Their Conflicts

Nov 3, 2024

Why Confederate Statues are a Source of Conflict

Background

  • Confederate monuments were erected after the American Civil War (1865) to commemorate the Confederacy's defense of slavery.
  • These statues symbolize complex historical, social, political, and legal discourses.

Social Tensions

  • Confederate statues have been at the heart of U.S. social tensions, debates, and protests.
  • Conflicts intensified during events like the 2015 Charleston Church Massacre and the election of President Trump in 2016.
  • Divisions exist between preserving history and removing racist monuments.

Different Interpretations of History

  • Conflict arises mainly between Southern white and African American communities.
  • These groups have conflicting interpretations and meanings attached to the monuments.

Southern White Identity

Role of Monuments

  • Daniel Demetriou: Humans require group cohesion through shared identity; memorials play a key role.
  • Pierre Nora: History is constructed to unify collective memory; reflected in monuments.

Creation of Identity

  • Monuments erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy during the Lost Cause movement.
  • Supported shared heritage, collective identity, and civil religion.

Perception of Threat

  • Statue removal perceived as an erasure of Southern white heritage and identity.
  • Fears arise from the perceived growing power of Southern Blacks.

Power Over African Americans

Symbolic Power

  • Confederate statues marginalize and exclude African Americans.
  • Erected mainly during Jim Crow and Civil Rights movements.

Promotion of White Supremacy

  • Glorify the Confederacy while omitting Black suffering.
  • Mark racial boundaries and promote white supremacy.

Health and Social Implications

  • Exposure to statues reinforces inferiority, causing stress and health issues.

Struggle Over Rights

Rights and Duties

  • Conflict stems from post-Civil War Amendments granting rights to African Americans.
  • Hohfeld's theory: Rights and duties correlate; Southern whites have duties to uphold Black rights.

Resistance to Change

  • Southern whites resist duties imposed by loss of Civil War.
  • Use monuments to maintain historical dominance and supremacy.

Conclusion

  • Confederate statues embody Southern identity and are seen as threats by white Southerners.
  • Conversely, they exercise power over African Americans, reinforcing inequality.
  • The conflict reflects unresolved issues post-Civil War around rights and duties.