Following yesterday’s post, I thought it might be helpful to publish something about schools, as far north as Massachusetts and Vermont, that also embraced Confederate imagery to represent them in the 1960s and 70s.
This post led me into a rabbit hole exploring the history of Utah’s (my former home state) Dixie University.
It’s name was very recently changed to Utah Technology University. The name change was not due to sensitivity about the ties between Dixie, the Confederacy, and what the Confederacy stood for. The name was changed because alumni complained about having to explain themselves and Dixie University during job interviews.
This school is in southern Utah, an area nicknamed Dixie because early settlers grew cotton in this southern region of the state. The school mascot was, of course, a Rebel. In the early 2000s, the mascot was changed to The Red Wave. I wonder if there was any awareness that Confederate army lines, movements, etc. are always shown in red. The new mascot is a bison.
Thanks as always for your thought provoking and informative posts.
There is a high school in Northeast Ohio, Willoughby South, that for many years had the nickname "Rebels" and had a Confederate soldier as its mascot. I know that the school dropped the mascot sometime around 2020 but I can't remember if they changed their nickname. I believe they did, but I can't say for sure. One of the school's alums is Kareem Hunt, currently a running back/receiver for the Cleveland Browns and formerly with the Kansas City Chiefs.
I think that in this and in many similar issues, such as the statues, it is important to say that the rebels were traitors and their enemy was the United States Army. Put this way, removing Confederate symbols becomes a matter of patriotism, that Americans of all races ought to support. Removing these disgraceful symbols shouldn't be only or mostly a matter of interest to Black people.
Exactly. I practically went hoarse in 2015-16 screaming about the lack of understanding that the Confederacy was the embodiment of treason. When the "good on both sides" argument floated after the 2017 Charlottsville riots, I thought I'd lose my mind. If one is truly a patriot, there's a bad side and that's the Confederacy, which fought to bring down the United States government.
This post led me into a rabbit hole exploring the history of Utah’s (my former home state) Dixie University.
It’s name was very recently changed to Utah Technology University. The name change was not due to sensitivity about the ties between Dixie, the Confederacy, and what the Confederacy stood for. The name was changed because alumni complained about having to explain themselves and Dixie University during job interviews.
This school is in southern Utah, an area nicknamed Dixie because early settlers grew cotton in this southern region of the state. The school mascot was, of course, a Rebel. In the early 2000s, the mascot was changed to The Red Wave. I wonder if there was any awareness that Confederate army lines, movements, etc. are always shown in red. The new mascot is a bison.
Thanks as always for your thought provoking and informative posts.
Thanks, Laura.
There is a high school in Northeast Ohio, Willoughby South, that for many years had the nickname "Rebels" and had a Confederate soldier as its mascot. I know that the school dropped the mascot sometime around 2020 but I can't remember if they changed their nickname. I believe they did, but I can't say for sure. One of the school's alums is Kareem Hunt, currently a running back/receiver for the Cleveland Browns and formerly with the Kansas City Chiefs.
At least one highway marker honoring Confederates was also removed in the past few years.
This is a great post.
I think that in this and in many similar issues, such as the statues, it is important to say that the rebels were traitors and their enemy was the United States Army. Put this way, removing Confederate symbols becomes a matter of patriotism, that Americans of all races ought to support. Removing these disgraceful symbols shouldn't be only or mostly a matter of interest to Black people.
Exactly. I practically went hoarse in 2015-16 screaming about the lack of understanding that the Confederacy was the embodiment of treason. When the "good on both sides" argument floated after the 2017 Charlottsville riots, I thought I'd lose my mind. If one is truly a patriot, there's a bad side and that's the Confederacy, which fought to bring down the United States government.
I completely agree, Bernard. Thanks for taking the time to comment.