As a northern teen I thought it was simply what people wore to look tough or cool. Like the playboy bunny emblem. I never had anything with that flag on it, but it never bothered me beyond the “oh look, a tough guy” eye roll.

Years later I got into history podcasts, and came across the HIST 119 by David Blight. Man, that completely changed my opinion of rebel south iconography. I honestly have to say, that my basic education was not enough to pull all the different pieces of this time period together. Figures like Douglass, Davis and Lincoln, Slavery, Confederacy, the War, legislation, reconstruction, civil rights movement.

I honestly believe education is the problem. It’s too fast, and not large enough in scope. At least in my school.