In the 1920s, the KKK used the Star and Stripes flag during their marches, not the Confederate flag.I agree with Nick that the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement drastically changed the South and the southern beliefs of many people in the South. However, I think it is also interesting to consider some interesting facts examined by southern blogger JD Murrah in his blog post titled “A Southern Primer: Truths, Untruths and Stereotypes” that counteracts some common stereotypes about the South’s stand on civil rights.
The principal port for slave ships was actually in New York City. The second and third were Portland, Maine and Boston. The first anti-slavery groups were also formed in the South. Furthermore, there were more free blacks living in the South at the beginning of the Civil War compared to the North. Surprisingly, “the first black chaplain for an American military unit was for the Confederate Army” (Murrah). It is also interesting to note that the KKK that marched in Washington in 1925, 1928, and 1990 carried the Stars and Stripes flag, not the Confederate flag, and the first state in America to elect a black governor was the southern state Virginia. Lawrence Douglas Wilder was elected to the Virginia senate in 1989 and served from 1990 to 1994.
Although the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement countered the beliefs of many southerners, slavery was not part of the “Southern Identity” for all southerners. I think that these events did impact the South greatly but did not completely change what it means to be a southerner. Southern hospitality, religion, music, and food still play a large part in southern identity.
The principal port for slave ships was actually in New York City. The second and third were Portland, Maine and Boston. The first anti-slavery groups were also formed in the South. Furthermore, there were more free blacks living in the South at the beginning of the Civil War compared to the North. Surprisingly, “the first black chaplain for an American military unit was for the Confederate Army” (Murrah). It is also interesting to note that the KKK that marched in Washington in 1925, 1928, and 1990 carried the Stars and Stripes flag, not the Confederate flag, and the first state in America to elect a black governor was the southern state Virginia. Lawrence Douglas Wilder was elected to the Virginia senate in 1989 and served from 1990 to 1994.
Although the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement countered the beliefs of many southerners, slavery was not part of the “Southern Identity” for all southerners. I think that these events did impact the South greatly but did not completely change what it means to be a southerner. Southern hospitality, religion, music, and food still play a large part in southern identity.
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