Civil War (or, Who Do We Think We Are)

An intriguing documentary on MSNBC that deals with the affect the Civil War has played in forming peoples' opinion about how we think about country, ourselves and race. The American south has a very complicated and complex idea about a war they lost. Usually the victors get to shape the narrative, in this case it is the south who lost the war but "won" keeping an emancipated group of the population down. The Confederate flag is very much a part of who many of the south still want to be. This documentary surprised me at how deep it is willing to go to let people have their say. As a northerner, it is difficult to understand why anyone would be proud of a confederate flag, a symbol of oppression and want to have their state identified with it, still? That flag is so clearly a mark of ignorance, defiance and hate. By contrast and comparison the only Germans, identified with a Nazi swastika, are considered to be ignorant thugs in their own country. A symbol of shame that Germany has dedicated itself to educate every generation to know and understand their shameful history. Back in America, five states still use elements of the "stars and bars" portions of the Confederate battle flag, but Mississippi is the only state still incorporating the entire battle emblem into its state flag.

I was ready for a rather biased indictment of the South and slavery. But the filmmakers really bent over backward to be as balanced as they could. Remember that the northern states and many of our founding fathers held slaves. The sad thing is that many in the South continue to say it's all in the past; it's history: so leave it alone. Yes, according to law, slavery no longer exists. Then we have the same expressions of hatred. I was particularly impressed with the kids in this documentary who were very forthcoming in their views on both sides of the issue.

The main take away for me was how divided we are as a country in the Deep South. It's still as though the south has not changed from over 120 yrs ago. The Whites still have a need to make sure they are in control of the entire storyline and how white dominated states are going to be this way for many more years.

Dr. Carr's class at Howard University was the highlight of this thorough historical journey through the pedagogy of the civil war in the American education system, from Black schools to White schools, from high schools to universities. Required viewing for all good citizens.

This film powerfully explores the contemporary impact of how slavery and the Civil War are and are not taught and understood throughout our country. Faulkner said, "The past is never dead. It is not even past." This film serves as a vivid illustration of that truth.

Do yourself a favor...watch it and think.