I have, on several occasions, been queried for my response to the removal of South Carolina’s Confederate flag, which has been a symbol of hate for some, while simultaneously representing a symbol of heritage for other folks. In 1961, this flag flew alongside the state flag in South Carolina mostly to show resistance to ending the Jim Crow era. I also give a side eye to those that act like they do not understand how a flag used by hate groups would not make folks from marginalized communities at least somewhat uncomfortable.
For me, the removal of the Confederate flag and the controversy surrounding it is less about the flag and more about the movement toward a new order that is leaving a lot of people anxious; folks like the Confederate flag-wielding group that greeted POTUS in Oklahoma City and demonstrators in Columbia. This new era of change is feeding into an irrational fear that a way of life so many have enjoyed is about to suddenly come to an end. True, there will be a shift in this country’s population, as brown folks will soon become the majority, but to think that a historical system of privilege will be somehow dismantled overnight is ridiculous.
This culture of change can, to me, be coined as the era of “The Haves” and the “Not Having It.”
You see, like it or not, the times are changing and many folks, specifically the younger demographic, are shedding the traditional trappings of being historically docile and complacent but rather deciding to create their own form of activism like #BlackLivesMatter.
We are experiencing a time when those who think their power structure is threatened are speaking and acting out boldly and without impunity. Yet those in the “Not Having It” camp are now responding with equal boldness and opposition.
The old order would have sat back, marched, prayed and waited for the “system” to make a decision in regards to the Confederate flag. The new regime, with members like activist and heroine Bree Newsome, are all about action. Newsome fearlessly scaled the flagpole outside the South Carolina Capitol and not only removed the flag but bravely stated to those below: “You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence. I come against you in the name of God. This flag comes down today.”
As a society, we have taught the “Not Having It” demographic of activists that being docile and complacent will only keep you voiceless. It is only when you speak out boldly and with purpose that “The Haves” will take notice. How many times were young black youth victimized by authority figures? It was not until they begin to protest and scream back in resistant defiance in environments like Ferguson and Baltimore that the media gave them any attention.
But the old regime is stubborn and nostalgic in their efforts to hold onto days gone by. No one epitomizes such a priggish mentality more than Donald Trump, who managed to insult and an entire populace — and the fastest growing American demographic — with his derogatory remarks that basically suggested a large percentage of Mexican immigrants are rapists, murderers and criminals. Before you denounce his antics as just another publicity stunt, look how many folks are showing up for his speaking engagements and how surprisingly well he is doing in polls, suggesting there is a disturbingly significant number of folks who wholeheartedly agree with Trump’s ideas.
But this new “Not Having It” fraternity of activists will not be outdone by some reality TV bully. A young champion for the cause emerged and spoke back to the old regime: award-winning actress of Honduran descent, America Ferrera. The actress, best known for her role in the series Ugly Betty, wrote an open letter to Trump and those that think like him.
And although Ferrera shared many inspiring words, the following seem to speak to the struggle between an old guard desperately clinging to an ideological relic while a new regime fearlessly ushers in an era of equality and inclusion:
“You, Mr. Trump, are living in an outdated fantasy of a bigoted America. Last week, America celebrated some amazing milestones — marriage equality, universal healthcare, removal of the Confederate flag — making it clear which direction the country is moving. That is why racist remarks that play to extremists won’t change the tide, no matter how hard you try.”
Take heed old guard, America has spoken.
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2015.
Well said brother Charles. We are in the midst of a major shift in power..
@shannise and it is a shift that is scaring some folks. Thank you for reading!
Great analysis. Will be interesting to see how the movement progresses.
Bravo Charles! Well said. The old guard is appreciated for getting us where we are today. Now it is time to step aside and allow the new guard to march forward.
@kwame Thank you and I agree I am anxious to see how the movement sustains itself. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
@Tina Most definitely we honor the sacrifice and work that the old guard has contributed to the movement but it is time for the new generation to take their place as leaders. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
More Black victim think BS. If Black Americans would put half the energy into reducing single parent households, emphasizing education over the .0001 chance of making the NBA, and took responsibility for the enormous amount of their youth commit, rather than play make believe about cops hating them and the ridiculous idea of white privelige (which gives them a cop out for their own failures), then they would be improving their plight in this country much faster.
It has always been our young. They are probably most suitable to be the primary faces of or any current civil and social of movements activities but only when they are properly led by right minded “elders” who know the lay of the land and who can counsel as to where the landmines can be planted. Sadly too little teaching and too much resistance to change has placed the two at odds. We need right of both. In the meantime, I think we have to guard against suggesting that non violence protests and their close kinship to our faith-based heritage has somehow become inanimate and should be retired to a rural county assisted living combine. There have always been varying approaches to our social needs, domestically and international, from those whose protests have been classified “active” and others “passive”. But non-violent organizing and strategies are what fueled both for the most part and have created in their wake a veritable hallowed hall of great men and women that have been world changers, though their methods were often at the expense of our patience and endurance. Our young today with their enthusiasm and social media savvy has been able to build across vast divides that physical limitation once thwarted. “Share” and “reblog” options are doing what civil, social and religious institution memberships did exclusively just a generation ago. I still think this generation is passing through a kind of “honeymoon” period of gains that will eventually be replaced by the knuckle down grind that social and civil rights causes require. In either case, the powers that be have reason to be dismayed and disheartened. It’s almost like you old heads are not dying but multiplying …
Change is hard but Necessary! I grew up in a small rural town in SC and segregation was always the way but now change is scaring some folks straight into an early grave.
@KishiaDinkins They say the only thing that is constant is change so some folks are just going to have to get with the program….smile. I understand the fear. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
I’m glad we’re using social + technology to speak out…However, in addition to speaking out, we have to infiltrate the “system”. I applaud Marilyn Mosby and others who are working within the system to make a difference.
Finally. Decency has prevailed and the Confederate flag was taken down.
Within the next year we should expect completely decimated statistics on black on black violence, black single parent households, black newly infected AIDS rates, black high school dropout rates, black domestic violence, basically all the things the bruthaman down that were caused by a multi colored (actually colored, not the racist colored) piece of cloth.
This was a huge win. Huge.