Social Media and the American Flag

Social Media and The American Flag

SOC/333

July 14, 2015

Social media is a-buzz about the symbolism of the Confederate Flag of the Southern States, does the flag represent southern pride or racism? There is a social divide on what the flag truly represents in respect to the America’s past during the civil divide of this great country. To some people the Confederate flag symbolizes slavery in the southern states; to others the flag is a symbol of southern heritage, rebellion against tyranny and the need to be self-governed. As I progressed through my life and gained different perspectives on what the flag symbolizes; using the internet I found that there is so much divide on the issue.

Not originally from the south I have never paid much attention to what the flag represented, I would watch the television show “Dukes of Hazzard”, and would idolize the car and the Duke boys as heroes fighting against the tyranny of Boss Hogg.In the perspective of a functionalist from southern culture; the southerner defends the status quo of southern pride. Mechanical solidarity comes to mind when social cohesion arises when people have similar values and beliefs in a southern community. The southern society is family oriented; they worship as a religious community, and hardworking people that contribute to the stability and productivity of the southern states. To the people of the south the Confederate flag represents all that is good about southern culture and do not want to change their society. Today the belief is that the flag does not represent slavery anymore and hold tight to the belief that the Confederate flag represents southern pride and nothing more.

The conflict perspective presents a different light than the functionalists if one has never lived in the south; the status quo is that the flag will always represent hatred toward black people in general. What you are taught in school family beliefs passed on by generations carry on the perspective that the...