Following the recent protests and rioting, there has been a renewed demand from some quarters to bring down monuments of confederate personalities, in the belief that they are a reminder, maybe even a celebration of that terrible chapter in American history when slavery was rife in many states. Certainly that era was a major embarrassment in America history, an affront to the guiding principle in our constitution that all men are created equal. Regrettably, bringing down these statues does not alter our history nor does it strike a blow against endemic racism.
Racism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.
While slavery certainly fed racism, the drive towards slavery was really economic. Slaves were not imported because they were unloved or because of a desire to abuse and humiliate them, but unfortunately that is precisely what eventually happened. They were acquired because they were available, not willingly but by brute force. They were considered property, instruments of production, necessary to be competitive in domestic and international markets. (In the early 1800s many whites from our merchant vessels were captured and enslaved by North African Principalities for the same reasons.) Southern states fought to preserve their way of life and their economic well-being. That didn’t make it right and the bloodshed of the civil war was justified to overturn this travesty. But rather than removing these monuments, why not apply the funds that would be expended to destroy and replace them towards an investment in Black communities, with educational scholarships, with upgrading neighborhoods, and with building more vocational schools. Tearing down monuments is symbolic, it doesn’t change anything, doesn’t eliminate racism; and most likely will even increase racism. During my lifetime I have seen major advancements in the Black community in every field of endeavor. Yes, progress has not been fast enough, and has not gone far enough. Let’s devote our energy and our resources to do more than the symbolic; let’s be imaginative, constructive and substantive.
Footnote:
One wonders where this movement to topple monuments might lead. Should we remove all traces of President Andrew Jackson for the forcible removal of 60,000 Native Americans from their land and homes in the infamous ‘Trail of Tears’ when more than 15,000 died of starvation, disease and exposure?
How about President James Polk, General (later President) Zack Taylor General Winfield Scott, and others, for their role in forcibly confiscating Mexican land with the loss of life of thousands. I’m sure there are many things in our history of which we are not proud, certainly not on the scale of slavery but nevertheless embarrassments many would like to sweep under the carpet – – but it doesn’t help.
Views of a Common Man 
Again, you have touched on a topic of great interest to me as a student of government. Perhaps my thoughts are best summed up by your last sentence….”many would like to sweep under the carpet – – but it doesn’t help.” in fact, it may hurt the very cause so many in Black Lives Matter pursue. While we cannot predict history one must wonder what will be the understanding of this period in history by future generations? Will we have an honest perspective or will the pendulum swing to be scripted? Thereafter swinging back and forth from generation to generation. Wouldn’t it make more sense to rewrite the plaques associated with these statutes and monuments and offer a more balanced view of that period of history. Understanding history helps those setting public policy to avoid the same pitfalls in the future.
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Destruction of statues and monuments is not a new idea. Centuries ago it constituted a rite of passage for conquering rulers or representatives of new dynasties to try to eliminate loyalty to their predecessors through the erasure of visual reminders of their reign.
Lesson 1 – “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (George Santayana)
Lesson 2 – “We are not makers of history. We are made by history” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Today, however, it seems the “herd mentality” is attempting to erase or rewrite history by removing all statues, monuments and memorials of imperfect people who went before us. That is unfortunate because a study of history reveals that people are fundamentally similar to each other, regardless of where and when they lived.
Does the following quote from George Orwell’s book 1984, sound possible in 2020?
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
Assuming no individual is perfect, it will be interesting to see what attempts, if any, are made to erase or rewrite history after declassified government reports are released, or we hear FBI surveillance recordings which are allegedly sealed until 2027. Shall we then find a renewed justification to remove or destroy statues, monuments and memorials of those additional imperfect people? Or will we finally choose to recognize that people are flawed, and appreciating their contributions does not mean that we endorse everything they said or did?
The better reasoning is that we choose to acknowledge and remember the part those flawed individuals played in our country’s epic struggles. The good news is that even today we are still attempting to create a more perfect union, and ensure that we are a country that gives its citizens the power of self-determination.
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