It's Complicated

On a Patriotic Relationship Status in the Face of US Race Relations

Nuance is important. More accurately, accuracy is important. I think so many times about the arguments I notice people having and they rarely see that multiple things can be true. Of course, this requires intelligence as well, and not to be rude, but many just don’t seem to have it. You also have to be willing to learn. Without getting into this topic deeply, masking during the pandemic is an example. It was initially said that cloth masks could not protect you from the virus. Most heard: “masks don’t work.” But then we were all told to wear masks. For one, we have to be able to know that the “experts” can be wrong, and if they realize something that makes them change course, we should hear them out. But that became the argument, either masks protect you or they don’t. But there was more complexity to it than just that (not that much), and even with the "My mask protects you, your mask protects me" campaigns, some people could not get past the initial debate. However, I have no interest in going in talking about masks.

I do feel like we’ve arrived in a place where monolithic argument is the norm. Unfortunately, perception of the masses is reality, so we learn from headlines and soundbites rather than informed reporting of the nuanced and complicated truth, or even opinion.

The Civil War is a topic of great importance in American History, though it seems to be incredibly misunderstood. How could a topic so vast as war between two halves of a country be so simple as one issue? It isn’t. We’ve heard often from Southern apologists that the war was fought over “States Rights.” Usually this is worded in a way to make it seem like slavery had little to do with it. From the Northern side, it was very much about slavery as a moral issue. For some, it might have been. But the truth, as it usually does, lies somewhere in between.

It's strange, coming to a place where you realize that little of what the US did or does could be categorized as righteous. When you do, the narratives that you took as gospel truth begin to hold less water. I don’t want to give a history lesson on the Civil War as that would likely bore most of you, and others have already done a much better job on this topic. However, I want to point to the way we discuss things and how damaging these single focused arguments really are.

As I am writing, Civil War statues are being taken down. Most notably, the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, North Carolina, the site of the “Unite the Right” rally a few years back, has just been removed. People on social media are arguing on both sides about “erasing history” or “honoring traitors.” You will not find me crying over these statues. They can all be removed from places of honor and be placed somewhere true history can be taught as far as I’m concerned. Unfortunately, that “true history” is also under attack.

One of the things I hear regularly, both in regard to the Civil War and to the military in general, is that black folks should be more appreciative of the people who fought and died for their freedoms. There’s a lot to unpack in such a statement, but as it pertains to the Civil War, it’s just not true. Though slavery was an issue, the North did not fight solely to free the slaves. Making such a statement is incredibly disingenuous. And if they did not fight to free the slaves, if they fought for other issues, such as economic power or preserving the Union, then that gratitude is for happenstance rather than righteousness. It’s unfortunate that the narrative paints one side as the bad guys and the other as the good. Southern apologists have long pointed towards actions of the North to say they weren’t good either, and rather than looking at that, we’ve said that can’t be because it doesn’t fit the dichotomy.

White Fragility author, Robin DeAngleo, points out this narrative and misconception that the South was bad as far as racism goes, and the north is/was enlightened and “good.” She goes so much further to show how this belief (and similarly held beliefs) have long insulated northern white people from addressing their own racism. If we can point to the bad guy, we are automatically the good guy. Right? Wrong. DeAngelo’s book clarifies that treatment of African Americans following the Civil War, both in the North & South, was anything but “good.” Examples are common, pervasive, and undeniable, spanning post-Civil War up to today. They include prominence of the KKK, lynching, redlining and unfair housing practices, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and mass incarceration, to name a few. You could argue about prevalence of modern racism, if you really wanted to, but I will point out that there are currently 18 anti-black hate groups active in Pennsylvania. These include the KKK, neo-nazis, and white nationalists. These aren’t people living in cabins in the woods. They have jobs and responsibilities. Some of them might be supervisors, elected officials, or police. They might also be your co-workers. If that only slightly bothers you, I’m going to take a long-shot guess that you aren’t a person of color.

Some will say that these examples are less prevalent than they seem, and although they are radical, they have a First Amendment right to speak all of the racist things that they want to. And when they do gather, like at the “Unite the Right” rally, with their tiki-torches chanting "blood & soil," we’re told that there are “good people” among them. We’re told that they are protecting our history. And when they mow down counter-protestors with their cars, we’re told that it’s unfortunate, but that doesn’t represent the majority. So strange.

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick knelt on the field during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. It became a polarizing moment for the country, which we all know very well about. Although he was peacefully practicing his first amendment right, we were told that he and those who followed him were “sons of bitches” who should be fired and taken off the field. More recently, Gwen Berry placed in the Olympic tryouts and turned away while the anthem was playing. Her two white counterparts proudly stood with hands over hearts, facing the flag. The image is striking, much like that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos with raised fists over fifty years ago. In that time, it seems like very little has changed. Of course, in the news and on social media, Berry was blasted as an “ungrateful brat,” who was disrespecting the flag and the people in uniform who “fought and died for her freedoms.” Not the freedom of speech or protest I would assume.

But I have to ask, when exactly was that? When did the United States fight for the rights of black people? We’ve established that the North did not fight to free the slaves, and that treatment of African Americans nationwide following the Civil War was not that of equal citizens. African Americans fought in the Civil War and subsequent wars, in fact disproportionately to their white brothers in arms by population. However, they were far from honored upon their return (see WWII GI Bill). Why is it still ok for black people’s rights to be trampled on and flat out denied? How dare we call them “ungrateful brats” like they owe anything to “WE” the white United States and we owe them nothing.

Now, you could read this entire article and perhaps come away with the opinion that I hate the United States. You’d be wrong. My favorite patriotic song is “America the Beautiful” as performed by Ray Charles. I don’t know how you could listen to that song and not get chills or feel hope for this place. This country and its people have done great things for all their failings and I don’t believe anyone protesting holds it to be beyond redemption. It is imperfect and has much that needs changed, but pointing out those needs is, by far, more patriotic than ignoring or justifying them. With every protest statement by a black athlete activist or racist statue that is taken down, I salute those patriots who believe that, despite the backlash they will undoubtedly receive, change is possible and worth the effort. You can love America and hate racism. You can appreciate those who protect our nation and still protest the policies and cultures that make some less than full citizens. Not every fight is between good and evil, nor is every issue black and white.

Below are links to materials for further consideration:

Military Histroy of African Americans in the Vietnam War

Military History of African Americans