Moya Morgan – Head Opinions Columnist
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Police officers lighting candles at vigil. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Lockhart
My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, what have you become? Right after the celebration of the independence of the United States of America, it seems as though we are still in the midst of an ongoing fight amongst ourselves. Within the last few weeks, the country has experienced an upheaval that begs society to question just how “united” we are.
There is so much happening right now that it is close to impossible to choose one specific issue to cover. It seems that as soon as we see progress toward equality, justice and liberty for all, we take multiple steps back.
On June 17, 2015, nine members of the historic Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. were shot and killed during a prayer meeting in the church’s sanctuary. Authorities said that the alleged suspect, 21 year old Dylan Roof, sat with the members for about an hour before making racial remarks and opening fire on the members.
The shooting is under investigation as a hate crime. Roof has expressed his hatred for blacks, Jews and Hispanics. In one of the more popular photographs of Roof that has circulated in the media, he is holding a burning American flag. In another photograph, he’s holding the Confederate flag. These two images have sparked several conversations and even a few movements.
Residents in South Carolina have called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the State Capitol Building because they believe it to be a symbol of racism and hatred. There are others who are fighting for the flag to fly in honor of those citizens who fought in the Civil War. This debate has ignited tension in the South. Even here in Birmingham, there are debates on whether the Confederate flags and other monuments that represent the Confederacy should be removed. Some of America’s leading merchants such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Sears have discontinued the sale of Confederate merchandise due to the national debate.
There are also individuals who have taken it upon themselves to do what they believe is right. Bree Newsome is one of those brave souls. Last Saturday, she took it upon herself to climb to the top of the flagpole on the capitol grounds in South Carolina and remove the Confederate flag. In a statement to the Blue Nation review, Newsome said, “I removed the flag not only in defiance of those who enslaved my ancestors in the southern United States, but also in defiance of the oppression that continues against black people globally in 2015.” Images of Newsome hanging from the flagpole circulated on social media throughout the weekend and received praises from thousands who referred to her as a hero. Some even compared her actions to those of Rosa Parks.
So, where do we stand? Are we truly on our way to achieving social justice and equality, or are we stuck in a cycle of prejudice, segregation and hatred? Will America ever reach a unified front?
There will always be differences in opinions and perspectives, but there should always be a reason to speak out. Whether you believe that the Confederate flag should fly or come down, whether you support same sex marriage or believe that the sanctity of marriage is solely for heterosexual couples, there is no reason to be silent. Stand for something, fight for something, believe in something. It matters not where you stand, but that you take a stand.
