Not for Admiration, but for Commemoration: Keeping the Confederate Statues Erect
With less than one hundred years since it was established, the United States of America split gravely during the historical Civil War. Over the course of four long years, America witnessed the bloodiest battles fought on American soil. After the war was won by the Union and Reconstruction was in full swing, African Americans were given rights previously unavailable to them due to their status in the American social landscape. Yet inequality among colored people versus white people has still raged on for centuries since. Despite the Confederate defeat and shameful shadow left on the South for the decades to follow, Confederate statues remained and more were built to commemorate the fallen Southern generals and soldiers.
However, recent events highlighting the inequality between black people and white people in the South has stirred trouble in the hearts of many Americans. The shooting …show more content…
Many Americans still view the Civil War as important to modern America. According to Roper Center for Public Opinion Research Archives, “56% [of Americas] said that the Civil War was still relevant to American politics and public life today” (Weldon). The historical Confederate monuments hold a piece a large piece of American history: the discourse that almost split the young country. By the public recognizing the statues and being reminded of this war constantly, it brings relevance to America’s own knowledge of the past and wariness of future civil unrest.
As the discourse in defintion of the Confederacy festers in the minds of many Americans, so does the definition of acceptable versus unacceptable, in regards to modern judgement on historical
With less than one hundred years since it was established, the United States of America split gravely during the historical Civil War. Over the course of four long years, America witnessed the bloodiest battles fought on American soil. After the war was won by the Union and Reconstruction was in full swing, African Americans were given rights previously unavailable to them due to their status in the American social landscape. Yet inequality among colored people versus white people has still raged on for centuries since. Despite the Confederate defeat and shameful shadow left on the South for the decades to follow, Confederate statues remained and more were built to commemorate the fallen Southern generals and soldiers.
However, recent events highlighting the inequality between black people and white people in the South has stirred trouble in the hearts of many Americans. The shooting …show more content…
Many Americans still view the Civil War as important to modern America. According to Roper Center for Public Opinion Research Archives, “56% [of Americas] said that the Civil War was still relevant to American politics and public life today” (Weldon). The historical Confederate monuments hold a piece a large piece of American history: the discourse that almost split the young country. By the public recognizing the statues and being reminded of this war constantly, it brings relevance to America’s own knowledge of the past and wariness of future civil unrest.
As the discourse in defintion of the Confederacy festers in the minds of many Americans, so does the definition of acceptable versus unacceptable, in regards to modern judgement on historical