The GOP's Embrace of Confederate Symbols
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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The Enduring Legacy of Confederate Symbols
The ongoing debate surrounding Confederate symbols in the United States highlights a deep divide in how the nation remembers its past. For many, these symbols represent a painful history of slavery, racial oppression, and treason. However, for others, they are seen as markers of heritage or reconciliation. The Trump administration has taken actions to restore and honor Confederate symbols and figures (dailykos.com). This stance contrasts sharply with efforts to remove such symbols, particularly after the 2020 racial reckoning.
The Confederacy, formed by Southern states that seceded from the United States, fought to preserve and expand the institution of slavery. This is why it is characterized as a “racist, traitorous group” (zinnedproject.org). Their actions led directly to the Civil War, a conflict against the federal government. The Confederacy's foundational principle was the defense of white supremacy and the enslavement of Black people. Therefore, the continued presence of these symbols is a constant reminder of this painful past for many Black Americans.
The “Lost Cause” and Its Modern Revival
Many Confederate monuments were erected decades after the Civil War as part of the “Lost Cause” myth (axios.com). This narrative falsely presented the war as a noble fight for states' rights rather than the preservation of slavery. Teaching or implying that the Confederate states seceded for states' rights is not accurate history; it is “white, Confederate-apologist history” (zinnedproject.org). After the 2020 protests, at least 167 Confederate symbols were removed or renamed, yet over 2,000 Confederate memorials still existed in the U.S. and its territories in 2022 (axios.com). This demonstrates the enduring nature of these symbols and the ongoing struggle over their meaning.
The Trump administration has advocated for reinstating the names of Confederate figures at military facilities, a reversal of the Biden administration's decision to remove names honoring a “racist, traitorous group” (dailykos.com). For example, Donald Trump brought back Fort Benning, named after Henry Lewis Benning, a “lover of slavery,” and renamed Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg, named after a Confederate general (dailykos.com). These actions are seen by many as a deliberate effort to restore a narrative that minimizes the role of slavery and glorifies Confederate figures.
The Confederate Theory of Secession
The Confederate theory of secession posits that individual states have the right to unilaterally withdraw from the United States. This theory was central to the Southern states' justification for leaving the Union in 1860-1861, leading to the Civil War. However, the Union victory in the Civil War, and subsequent Supreme Court rulings, definitively established that states do not have the right to secede. Therefore, this theory has no legal standing under U.S. law and is widely considered historically discredited.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has invoked a “Confederate theory of secession” to justify violating federal law (theatlantavoice.com). This invocation of a discredited theory underscores the continued political relevance of Confederate ideology for some. The seven states that seceded before Lincoln took office did so to preserve slavery, not due to a quarrel with the national government, highlighting the true motivation behind their secession (zinnedproject.org). The “Lost Cause” myth falsely recast the Civil War as a noble regional fight for “states' rights,” which is a misrepresentation of the Confederacy's true motivations for secession (axios.com).
Erasing Black History and Controlling Narratives
Beyond symbols, there is a perceived pattern of erasing Black history and promoting a particular narrative about the past. A report noted the “exceptional integrity” of a landscape that created “a sense of the feeling of living and working in the plantation system in the American South,” but the agency withdrew it from consideration for National Historic Landmark designation (capitalbnews.org). This decision is seen by many as part of a pattern of erasure, where significant Black historical sites are denied recognition.
In 2023, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis led the charge against Advanced Placement African American Studies, blocking the course from being taught in the state’s public schools (capitalbnews.org). He insisted that it would make white students feel guilty about the past. South Carolina quietly canceled AP African American Studies after participating in the College Board's program during the 2022-2023 school year (thegrio.com). These actions are part of a broader GOP backlash to the 2020 racial reckoning, which led to new state laws limiting the discussion of slavery in public schools (axios.com).
Public Opinion on Confederate Symbols and Black History Education
Public Opinion on Historical Narratives
Public opinion regarding Confederate symbols and Black history education is deeply divided, often along political and racial lines. While some segments of the population, particularly conservative and white groups, may view Confederate symbols as heritage or historical markers and oppose what they perceive as “revisionist” Black history education, a significant portion of the public, including most Black Americans and many liberals, views these symbols as offensive reminders of slavery and racism. There is strong support among these groups for removing Confederate symbols and for comprehensive Black history education.
This division is reflected in the ongoing political battles over monument removal, school curricula, and federal policies. The removal of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington was recommended by a bipartisan congressional commission, indicating some level of consensus across the political spectrum for addressing Confederate iconography (washingtonpost.com). However, Donald Trump has long opposed the removal of Confederate monuments, famously wading into the debate after the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, which reflects a segment of public opinion that aligns with his views (axios.com).
The Confederate Memorial at Arlington: A Contested Symbol
The Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated in 1914, decades after the Civil War, during a period of national reconciliation that often downplayed the role of slavery in the conflict and promoted the “Lost Cause” narrative. It was intended to symbolize unity between the North and South, but its imagery, which includes enslaved people depicted in a subservient manner, has made it deeply controversial. While some view it as a symbol of reconciliation, others see it as an offensive glorification of the Confederacy and a painful reminder of slavery and racial oppression, leading to calls for its removal.
The removal of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington was recommended by a bipartisan congressional commission appointed after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020 (washingtonpost.com). This event led to a wide-scale reckoning with the nation’s history of racism. The monument’s removal marks a significant moment in the Defense Department’s mission to cleanse the U.S. military of Confederate iconography (washingtonpost.com). Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) is disappointed by the monument’s removal and plans to relocate it to New Market Battlefield State Park, which he believes would be a “fitting backdrop” for the memorial (washingtonpost.com).
Impact on Black Communities
The restoration of Confederate symbols and the blocking of African American studies courses have significant negative impacts on communities, particularly Black Americans. These actions can perpetuate historical inaccuracies, minimize the atrocities of slavery, and reinforce systemic racism. For Black Americans, the presence of Confederate symbols can be a painful reminder of a history of oppression, violence, and white supremacy, creating an unwelcoming and hostile environment.
Limiting access to comprehensive African American history education can deny Black students the opportunity to learn about their heritage and contributions. It also prevents all students from developing a full understanding of American history and the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Critics view attacks on the “Black Smithsonian” and efforts to limit discussions of Black history as attempts to sanitize racism in U.S. history (apnews.com). Pages discussing racial integration of the military have been cut, and a page honoring Colin Powell was removed and relabeled as DEI, indicating a broader trend of minimizing discussions related to race (donmoynihan.substack.com).
Understanding Key Terms
Clarifying Historical Terms
Erasure
The act of removing or obscuring historical narratives, particularly those related to the experiences and contributions of marginalized groups, or downplaying negative aspects of historical events like slavery. It implies a deliberate attempt to whitewash or sanitize history.
Restoration
The act of bringing back or reinstating Confederate symbols, names, or historical narratives that had been removed or challenged. This often involves efforts to re-erect monuments, rename facilities, or reintroduce historical interpretations that align with the “Lost Cause” narrative.
Reconciliation
Typically refers to the process of restoring friendly relations or harmony, especially after conflict. In the context of Confederate memorials, “reconciliation” was often invoked after the Civil War to promote national unity, but it frequently came at the expense of acknowledging the injustices of slavery and the experiences of Black Americans.
Understanding the terminology used in these debates is crucial for grasping the perspectives and stakes involved. “Erasure” refers to the act of removing or obscuring historical narratives, particularly those related to the experiences and contributions of marginalized groups, such as African Americans (axios.com). It implies a deliberate attempt to whitewash or sanitize history. The “Lost Cause” myth, which falsely recast the Civil War as a noble regional fight for “states' rights” as opposed to the preservation of slavery, is an example of historical “erasure” or misrepresentation.
“Restoration” refers to the act of bringing back or reinstating Confederate symbols, names, or historical narratives that had been removed or challenged (axios.com). This often involves efforts to re-erect monuments, rename facilities, or reintroduce historical interpretations that align with the “Lost Cause” narrative. “Reconciliation” typically refers to the process of restoring friendly relations or harmony, especially after conflict. In the context of Confederate memorials, “reconciliation” was often invoked after the Civil War to promote national unity, but it frequently came at the expense of acknowledging the injustices of slavery and the experiences of Black Americans, leading to a problematic form of “reconciliation” that prioritized white unity over racial justice (washingtonpost.com).
Legal and Policy Frameworks
The removal or restoration of Confederate symbols and the teaching of African American history are governed by a complex patchwork of federal, state, and local laws and policies. At the federal level, the Defense Department has been mandated to remove Confederate iconography from military installations, a recommendation from a bipartisan congressional commission (washingtonpost.com). This reflects a federal directive to cleanse the U.S. military of Confederate iconography.
States often have their own laws regarding historical monuments, with some enacting protections for Confederate memorials and others facilitating their removal. Local governments and school boards also play a significant role in decisions regarding public symbols and curriculum development. The GOP backlash to the 2020 racial reckoning led to new state laws limiting the discussion of slavery in public schools, demonstrating state-level policy interventions (axios.com). Donald Trump signed an executive order taking aim at what he called a “revisionist movement” that has infiltrated federal sites, indicating a potential federal policy to restore or protect certain historical narratives (axios.com).
Timeline of Confederate Symbol Controversy
Key Moments in Confederate Symbol Debates
The embrace of Confederate symbols by some Republicans is a recent development, following years of unease (washingtonpost.com). Some Republicans who previously voted to remove the Confederate flag from federal graveyards or to not memorialize Confederate leaders in the Capitol might feel differently about the Confederate Memorial at Arlington. Supporters of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington pitch it as a symbol of reconciliation and unification after the Civil War, rather than celebrating the Confederacy, calling it the “Reconciliation Memorial” (washingtonpost.com).
This shift in stance reflects a broader political strategy to appeal to a base that views these symbols as part of their heritage. It also aligns with a narrative that seeks to minimize the historical context of slavery and racial oppression. The ongoing debate over these symbols and the teaching of Black history underscores the persistent struggle for a more accurate and inclusive understanding of American history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
