deepundergroundpoetry.com
Southern Pride
I'm tired of pretending—
That the flag that you're defending
Isn't hateful or offending,
In the message that it's sending.
You claim it as your heritage,
With southern pride, the narrative;
Understanding how unfair that is
Is absolutely imperative.
Say your father flew a Nazi flag—
As a German soldier, would you brag?
And fly that hateful posse's rag,
Or retire it to a body bag?
Now, imagine what you'd do,
If your mother were a Jew.
What would it mean to you?
Would it change your narrow view?
I'm really hoping for the latter—
For the sake of Black Lives Matter,
That you'll end the senseless chatter
And your ignorance will shatter.
It's time to change our shameful ways,
Which remind us of those painful days.
For in a world of black and white,
I'm always looking for the grays.
That the flag that you're defending
Isn't hateful or offending,
In the message that it's sending.
You claim it as your heritage,
With southern pride, the narrative;
Understanding how unfair that is
Is absolutely imperative.
Say your father flew a Nazi flag—
As a German soldier, would you brag?
And fly that hateful posse's rag,
Or retire it to a body bag?
Now, imagine what you'd do,
If your mother were a Jew.
What would it mean to you?
Would it change your narrow view?
I'm really hoping for the latter—
For the sake of Black Lives Matter,
That you'll end the senseless chatter
And your ignorance will shatter.
It's time to change our shameful ways,
Which remind us of those painful days.
For in a world of black and white,
I'm always looking for the grays.
Published 8th Jul 2020
Author's Note
#blacklivesmatter
Living in Mississippi, amidst the removal of our controversial state flag, many white southerners are clinging to the artifact - as they consider it a part of their heritage. What they need to understand is this: regardless of what it means to you, and regardless of your intentions, to many, this 'battle flag', represents the confederacy and is a symbol of white supremacy. It's as simple as that.
Living in Mississippi, amidst the removal of our controversial state flag, many white southerners are clinging to the artifact - as they consider it a part of their heritage. What they need to understand is this: regardless of what it means to you, and regardless of your intentions, to many, this 'battle flag', represents the confederacy and is a symbol of white supremacy. It's as simple as that.
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8th Jul 2020 3:05pm
Amen NB ... I have this discussion way too often ... I live in Alabama (though originally a Yankee) ... I cheered when I heard the news about your state flag ...
8th Jul 2020 8:47pm
Thanks for stopping, LilDragonFly. Yes, it is a massive victory for the modern day abolitionists... Some people just don't get it... That, or they're too insensitive and selfish to care - either way, I'm happy that we're making some much needed progress. Sometimes I feel like people are living in the past...
8th Jul 2020 3:48pm
I think it is about holding on to racism. I see people here where I live say it's heritage. I live up north. Who's heritage is it up here?
8th Jul 2020 9:01pm
I'm sure there are some southern people who legitimately feel like the flag represents their southern heritage, but I think you are right that many of these people are just thumbing their noses at black people. Even if you are emotionally attached to the flag, to continue to fly it, when it's blatantly obvious that it's offensive to many black people, is incredibly selfish and insensitive.
If I started wearing a shirt with a random logo, and suddenly I realized that it was offending a lot of people, I'd quit wearing the damn shirt, no matter how much I liked it... Because I'm not the most important person on this planet, and I care about how others feel.
Hate to say it, but many of these flag-toting people are the same ones who throw tantrums at mandatory mask-wearing. Me, me, me, is all I hear!
Thanks for your input, DevilsChild - I always appreciate your support and feedback!
If I started wearing a shirt with a random logo, and suddenly I realized that it was offending a lot of people, I'd quit wearing the damn shirt, no matter how much I liked it... Because I'm not the most important person on this planet, and I care about how others feel.
Hate to say it, but many of these flag-toting people are the same ones who throw tantrums at mandatory mask-wearing. Me, me, me, is all I hear!
Thanks for your input, DevilsChild - I always appreciate your support and feedback!
9th Jul 2020 4:37am
Couldn't agree more. So many people think about themselves rather than others.
8th Jul 2020 7:17pm
Great piece. I recently watched a video where a white guy holding a rebel flag was yelling at a dapper dressed black gentleman that the flag symbolized his families fight for the right to keep their lands; to which the black gentleman replied, “who was working those fields”?. Smack down.
8th Jul 2020 9:08pm
Thanks for stopping by, Eerie! Some of these people need a history lesson... maybe 3.
This poem was inspired partially by a clip from an episode of "What Would You Do?" that aired last night. If you're interested, here's the link:
https://youtu.be/acPTLSdxRC4
This poem was inspired partially by a clip from an episode of "What Would You Do?" that aired last night. If you're interested, here's the link:
https://youtu.be/acPTLSdxRC4
8th Jul 2020 11:37pm
Oh I agree my friend... you sure have nailed it...but don't forget...lest we repeat the error...that if we...conveniently
...pretend it never happened...
we will surely devolve to our former
inglorious selves...hugs... Ely
...pretend it never happened...
we will surely devolve to our former
inglorious selves...hugs... Ely
9th Jul 2020 2:23am
Half my family were southerners. When I was a toddler my grandparents had a music box that I absolutely loved. It had little wooden figures on top holding different instruments, and when you wound it up it'd play
"I Wish I Were in Dixie."
I was never really a southern pride person, and I never associated that tune to anything other than my amusement as a four year old.
In light of what's been happening recently though, the memory of it is starting to sting and I wish it wouldn't.
"I Wish I Were in Dixie."
I was never really a southern pride person, and I never associated that tune to anything other than my amusement as a four year old.
In light of what's been happening recently though, the memory of it is starting to sting and I wish it wouldn't.
9th Jul 2020 5:19am
Yes, it symbolizes the goddamn DEMOCRAT scourge of slavery, lynching, eugenic, nazi inspiring Jim crow laws, racist Dixiecrat evil, That democrat party, in turn, needs to banned and outlawed as they are 100% responsible for the confederacy. No matter what Marxist revisionist history lies are propagandized to the contrary.
bravo
J
bravo
J
9th Jul 2020 7:10am
Dear NB,
Your last line is particularly telling. You'll dig deeper than accept the surface face value representation of something. That’s what makes you a great friend and wonderfully caring person. Fabulous write! H🌷
Your last line is particularly telling. You'll dig deeper than accept the surface face value representation of something. That’s what makes you a great friend and wonderfully caring person. Fabulous write! H🌷
10th Jul 2020 2:24am
11th Jul 2020 7:51am
Powerful piece NB. I hear in Germany the nazi flag is outlawed and that they are very embarrased by it all.
We can all have a sense of pride, our roots or wherever we come from, but when some of these symbols of hate still have a very profound effect on our society.
Thank you for sharing such an intriguing piece. It shows that we all stand united.
We can all have a sense of pride, our roots or wherever we come from, but when some of these symbols of hate still have a very profound effect on our society.
Thank you for sharing such an intriguing piece. It shows that we all stand united.
Thank you, i learned something new today.
Me again, only 6 more CSA flags left to come down. Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Gee, look where these state are. (Texas looks a bit Confederate.).
Me again, only 6 more CSA flags left to come down. Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Gee, look where these state are. (Texas looks a bit Confederate.).
21st Sep 2020 10:27pm
