As a Virginian and an old (70) white woman who was raised on lost cause mythologies, I wish we could change the perception of the word confederate to its true meaning in this context - a rebel against the US Constitution. As a kid I was taught to call it the war of Northern aggression, but it should be labeled the war of southern rebellion. Until we get the words right and remember, for example, that r.e.lee broke the oath he swore to the US Constitution at West Point, the oath that was kept by his fellow Virginian General George Thomas, the same oath that my mother-in-law, my father, and my son took, we will never be done with white supremacy in this country.
I deeply appreciate your consideration of historical memory when it comes to this false equivalency between King and Lee. I especially appreciate how you point out there is a needless south-bashing approach in a lot of discourse on the subject.
I do also have a question about language.
Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on the use of the terms "blacks," and "African Americans" in historical literature? When I attended Loras college, a lot of the historical literature I read used the former over the latter. Does the use of the term "blacks," create a crude and rude view of African American people or is it just a product of changing times? I would love to hear your thoughts.
As a Virginian and an old (70) white woman who was raised on lost cause mythologies, I wish we could change the perception of the word confederate to its true meaning in this context - a rebel against the US Constitution. As a kid I was taught to call it the war of Northern aggression, but it should be labeled the war of southern rebellion. Until we get the words right and remember, for example, that r.e.lee broke the oath he swore to the US Constitution at West Point, the oath that was kept by his fellow Virginian General George Thomas, the same oath that my mother-in-law, my father, and my son took, we will never be done with white supremacy in this country.
I deeply appreciate your consideration of historical memory when it comes to this false equivalency between King and Lee. I especially appreciate how you point out there is a needless south-bashing approach in a lot of discourse on the subject.
I do also have a question about language.
Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on the use of the terms "blacks," and "African Americans" in historical literature? When I attended Loras college, a lot of the historical literature I read used the former over the latter. Does the use of the term "blacks," create a crude and rude view of African American people or is it just a product of changing times? I would love to hear your thoughts.