"There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence of it." -Mitch Landrieu

It is 2020- it's time to stop paying so much reverence and homage to the Confederacy and feeding into the false narrative that the war was not fought over slavery. We must stop ignoring how the Confederate symbolism affects people of color in their own home, and listen to what they have to say. Lets follow in Mississippi's footsteps. If they can do it, we can too.

According to the official Arkansas Secretary of State website, "the lone star above the word is to commemorate Arkansas’ membership in the Confederacy". The three stars below it symbolize the three countries Arkansas has belonged to- Spain, France, and the United States.

When one takes into account that the fourth star was not added until the year 1923, over 50 years after the Civil War ended, it is clear to see what the intentions were. This was a time when Jim Crow laws and segregation still plagued the South. The oppression of Black people was the societal norm. The design of the flag as a whole is very closely tied to the design of the Confederate flag. The Confederacy lasted only 5-6 years. Arkansas is so much more than that, and it is time to recognize the beauty in our State and move away from revering our stance in the Civil War.

Why commemorate this dark and heinous time? It can be remembered and taught to children in schools WITHOUT being celebrated on our state flag. Arkansas history is every Arkansans history, not just White Arkansans.

Let's move away from the Confederacy. Arkansas is so much more than that. 

Credit to Heather Griffin at www.heathergriffinart.com