HCBA Lawyer Magazine No. 31, Issue 1 | Page 30

S P E C I A L F E A T U R E Judge Barbara Twine-Thomas – Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court & Raymond T. (Tom) Elligett – Buell & Elligett, P.A. race,reconciliation, anda“rebel”Flag letthoseamongusinournoble profession ofthelawandjustice leadthewaytoputawaythese symbolsthatlimitourprogress towardsamorefair,amorejust, amorepeacefulnation. Since we co-authored an article in 2000 on the song “Dixie” being played at public events, there have been some changes. But recent deaths and the ensuing civil rights protests remind us that much work remains to be done by us as individuals, communities, and as a nation to finally achieve racial equality and justice — to truly reconcile race relations. To achieve racial equality and justice, Americans must consider and address how cultural symbols (statutes, monuments, and flags) that are displayed by our governments, and individuals, impact others. The commonly displayed “Confederate” flag was not the flag of the Confederacy during the Civil War. It is a variant of the flag of Northern Virginia, and had a resurgence after WWII, when some southern politicians opposing Harry Truman’s civil rights agenda promoted the flag as a symbol (sometimes referred to as the “lost cause”) of segregation and racial oppression. Many confederate monuments were also constructed long after the Civil War, to intimidate Blacks and to promote segregation and racial oppression. Thus, this “modern rebel flag” and some confederate monuments were not created merely to honor relatives (who fought for the Confederacy against the United States), but rather were advanced as a symbol of the days of white supremacy, segregation and racial oppression; and to threaten and intimidate Blacks and other people of color. Continuedonpage29 2 8 S E P T - O C T 2 0 2 0 | H C B A L A W Y E R