Heritage, Not Hate.

Last updated on: August 13, 2015 at 11:49 am by Ahnnalise Stevens Jennings

Heritage, Not Hate. 2015-08-13T11:49:07-05:00 Ahnnalise Stevens Jennings

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Heritage, Not Hate.

I’m from the South. Virginia, born and raised. I love it. This is a beautiful place that reminds me of how creative and extraordinary God is as its creator. When I picture heaven, I see the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am thankful for my life here. I am proud of my Southern Heritage. My ancestors built the South. We planted, harvested, grew and expanded it. My family tree’s roots are found in African Slaves, and Native Americans who some how managed to avoid the terrible journey of the trail of tears.

I understand why people would like to show the world that this is where their roots are. We have plenty to be proud of. So why is it that we choose an image of our most shameful time to be the symbol for the South? The Confederate States of America only existed for four years, why is it used as a symbol of our entire history?

Let me be clear, I want everyone to know the History of the South. I do not want it glossed over, or made easier to swallow with a sugar coating. Usually, when I have discussions with people about the Confederate Flag, that is what I get, sickly sweet syrupy sugar coating.

I do not want to hear, “Slavery wasn’t that bad,” “My ancestors treated their slaves like family,” or, “the war was about states’ rights,” ever again.

That is not telling the whole story. If you think that is the whole story, then do some more research.

I want us to know our Southern history, every blood soaked, shackled, whipped, and beaten piece of it.

I want everyone to know what happened here so that they know what the flag really represents when they fly it.

There has been a lot of talk around me lately about how removing the confederate flag is a way for Liberals and Black folks to erase Southern history. As a Black person, and a Liberal, I am here to set the record straight. We do not want the history erased, what we want is to have our history fully told.

We want to hear the stories of families sold away from each other. We want to stories of pastors holding secret church meetings where they teach other enslaved people about the liberating message of the gospel. We want stories about Black women who were able to act as spies for the Union army by working in Confederate camps. We want the stories told of Black fathers who willing joined the Confederate army because of the promise of freedom and the spark of hope for a better future for their children. We want the stories that tell the whole truth about what it was like to be owned by another human being. We want the honest stories about the rape of Black girls and women by White men, the same White men who would then go home and tell their wives and daughters to stay away from “predatory” Black men.

If you mean it when you say Heritage, Not Hate, then tell the truth about the heritage, and stop being so hateful. Almost every time I hear that phrase, I get a whole lot of hate, and not a lot of heritage following it. Be proud of being from the South, I know that I am, but while you are being proud, also be honest and then together, we can create a symbol that the whole South can be proud of.

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