Thats a good point DST, this flag is being raised to honor fallen confederate soldiers, many of whom were black. Anyone who is honestly offended by this doesn't understand the significance of the memorial.

Maybe so, but I was referring to some of the hate groups out West etc. that use the flag "flap" as a symbol of hate and have never even been to the South!

I've also wondered about the blacks who display the Confederate flag out of respect for the blacks who served in that Army because from what I understand about that time period is very little record keeping was kept on blacks, so the only "real evidence" they have is word of mouth...

"No accurate record has been kept of black units that served the South, since most of them were state militia and never mustered into the Confederate Army."
http://www.civilwarhistory.com/slave...oldiersCSA.htm

And what supports that is that it's the Sons of Confederate Veterans raising the version of the Rebel Flag that was the Battle Flag of the confederacy. I think it needs to be taken on face value that these are relatives of veterans, honoring the symbol of the veterans who fought (regardless of race). If it were another group that wanted to make a more political statement, it would have been done with more fanfare and with obvious intent to make a "point". It doesn't seem like the group that raised the flag are the ones making the noise about it. That doesn't stop others who see it from inferring whatever they want and then possibly taking offense regardless of the meaning behind it, but hey, then we're back to the greatness and power of that darned 1st Amendment.

Hate groups aren't on my radar when it comes to this topic. The Confederate Flag is used everyday in the South (and other parts of the country), outside of the hate group context, for legitimate and illegitimate purposes.

As far as I'm concerned, there is no debate about the existence of black Confederate soldiers.

The fact remains that there are blacks who fly the Confederate Flag for whatever reasons they do so. :)

For those who do not know what this sub-conversation is about:
In the past few years several researcher have found that Blacks did serve in Gray uniforms during the War between the States.
I have seen Blacks proudly wearing Gray at several re-enactments.
As for numbers, that is still being fought over;) and is not all too clear.
But then again the number of women who fought, in disguises, is still uncertain as well last I read.
MVHPOV, which is probably a minority, is that the Battle Flag is an American Flag.
I also believe the flag has been mis-used and dis-honored by the few.

Thanks for holding their hands, jon. They were nervously awaiting your arrival.

I guess I missed a post or two while I was posting.:o
Glad to see that we are all in agreement here.:)

LOL ;)

For further information -
 

www.blackconfederates.com

www.37thtexas.org/html/BlkHist.html

http://www.forrestsescort.org/blacks.