The ‘Cloth on the Stick’ Represents Hatred Toward Me

By Maisie Brown
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 10:06 a.m. CDT

As a young, black woman growing up in the South, I was taught many things, but one of the most important was to be respectful at all times, even if it was not deserved in every situation ...

... the Mississippi state flag depicts pure disrespect ...

When my state decides that a Confederate flag represents me, I am not only deeply offended, but I am hurt. Growing up in this state, I became aware at an early age that not everyone here shares the same thoughts of racial equality as I do. The First Amendment gives everyone the right to exercise free speech. But when my state government condones such thoughts and representations of hatred, it is a serious problem that has to be addressed sooner or later.

No matter how many different ways people have interpreted this flag over the years, the creators themselves designated its primary purpose: to illustrate white supremacy and represent a group of people who wanted my people to stay enslaved ...

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/mar/23/cloth-stick-represents-hatred-toward-me/