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Heaton: Mistakes Are Meant For Learning, Not Repeating
The current state flag controversy and the integration of Ole Miss in 1962 have remarkable similarities: the difference is that Ole Miss learned from the mistakes of 1962. By taking down the state flag, the University is not being held hostage by local, state or federal politicians and outsiders.
Growing up in Mississippi, I took the rebel flag for granted. From the first grade at Bramlett Elementary to graduation from Ole Miss, rebel flags were ubiquitous around Oxford. This was because cheerleaders threw bundles of them into the stands at home games. It seemed to me that the flags were always there, but the fact is that the flags had been tossed into the stands only since September 1962 when Governor Ross Barnett used the game before James Meredith’s integration to rally segregationists.
Similarly, the current state flag is a recent design* and is also very likely a product of a segregationist event. The current Mississippi state flag assumes the basic design of the second Confederate flag**, the first official state flag of Mississippi was the Magnolia Flag. After the war, the Magnolia Flag became unofficial due to bureaucratic oversight, but it was still the flag used until 1894 when the current “battle flag” design was adopted.
Not coincidentally, Plessy v. Ferguson — which upheld segregation — became law at about the same time as the current flag with the Confederate symbol became official.
It’s worth noting that Robert E. Lee distanced himself from divisive symbols of the Civil War saying, “I think it wiser not to keep open the sores of war.” There were no Confederate flags at his funeral.
According to the 2014 census, Mississippi is 38 percent black and 60 percent white. In a state with one million blacks, I have never seen one black person with a rebel flag. A 2001 referendum for a new flag was defeated in a vote of 36 percent to 64 percent, basically confirming that the black and white census figures were correct.
Just as Ed Meek describes the student body in his book RIOT, I never game much thought how blacks felt about exclusion. Now I understand that the spectacle of rebel flags flying at Hemmingway Stadium, while thrilling to me, was chilling to black students.
The events of September 1962 and the timid leadership of the administration would have dire consequences to the prestige of Ole Miss and its Alumni for decades. This mistake was not to be repeated with the lowering of the state flag this week.
Think a movement about this great state of Mississippi. What makes it special? Try leaving Mississippi for a while and the special things stick out in sharp relief. As I argued in an earlier article, the South is the last American culture. If that is true (and I believe it to be), the people of Mississippi are the overachievers of Southern culture as they have contributed the majority of the Southern food, music and literature enjoyed around the world.
If we were to exclude the contributions of blacks in Mississippi, there would be nothing special the culture – it would just be like Canada.
I understand that for many white Mississippians the flag symbolizes heritage. But I would like you to consider this heritage fact from the US Census: 85 percent of black families in this country can trace their heritage to before the antebellum period. Black and white Mississippians fought and died for this country and the culture – we have all earned the right to be included in the symbol of our state. The current flag is not Mississippian, and most importantly, it is not inclusive.
Ole Miss cannot escape from history, and neither can Mississippi. We are stronger by learning from history – and believe me that Mississippi is a hell of a lot more interesting than Canada.
*The flag was first adopted in April 1894. However, it was repealed in 1906, remaining in de facto usage until its official re-adoption in April 2001.
**The first Confederate flag looked very much like the Union’s and this led to confusion on the battlefield. After Robert E. Lee’s stunning victories in 1863, the Confederacy adopted a design with the battle flag of The Army of North Virginia in the corner.
Tim Heaton is a HottyToddy.com contributor and can be reached at tim.h.heaton@gmail.com.
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
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| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
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| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |
Reb Sheldon
October 29, 2015 at 8:29 pm
“If we were to exclude the contributions of blacks in Mississippi, there would be nothing special the culture – it would just be like Canada.”
By the definition of that statement ( that Blacks are the only contributors of culture in Mississippi), you, Tim Heaton, are contributing nothing yourself.
Was Elvis black? Eudora Welty? William Faulkner? William Alexander Percy? Archie Manning? Countless un-named local “heroes?”
You make a fair point for the lowering of the flag… But, in my honest opinion, lowering the flag is showing the ultimate disrespect to the state. If you don’t like the flag, change it…
If you can’t change it, then you have to show respect. I don’t like paying taxes to the federal government, but I’m not allowed to just not pay .
The taxes I pay are a privilege tax that I pay to be a US Citizen, in good standing with my leadership. I Flat out don’t like O’Bama… But, he IS the President, and all good citizens do have to respect the position, not the man.
Same with the military: subordinate soldiers salute the rank, not the man.
Don’t lower the flag to show respect for a minority population… Change the flag, by law, and all citizens must respect it, whether they like it or not.
Justin
October 29, 2015 at 9:51 pm
Let’s clarify two things: African Americans in Mississippi have flown and supported the flag. Look at Anthony Hervey who was just killed following a rally and constantly could be seen on the Square in a Confederate uniform with a Confederate flag. How quickly we forget those that go against the grain!
Second, the article mentions the University not being held hostage my outsiders. Try researching the students and faculty that voted to remove the flag from campus. How many are true born and raised Mississippians? The outsiders are the ones bringing about the change and are holding the Mississippi flag hostage.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3168224/Black-Mississippi-flag-supporter-dies-traffic-accident.html
Barry
October 29, 2015 at 10:42 pm
You along with many of those who voted to take the flag down need to go back and learn about history. For some reason you are going by what the media want you to believe about this flag. I have been here my whole life and respect those on both sides but it’s still our flag and until we stand up for our rights the few will always get there way.if the people vote to change the flag it should be changed other wise you need to either move out of MS or stand behind our flag.
Tim Heaton
October 30, 2015 at 5:34 am
Reb Sheldon -Thank you for commenting.
You can’t un-mix a gumbo. Who would Elvis draw inspiration from and what would the writers you mention write about?
However, I do agree that I contribute nothing,
Dave
October 30, 2015 at 9:33 am
Them damn coloreds need to shut up. The only colors I like are the ones on my flag, cuz these COLORS DONT RUN
Right or wrong
Paul Oxford
October 30, 2015 at 11:06 am
I ama white college educated marraid man that adopted a black infant and as a person that is Pro Gay Marraige, Pro Choice, and undoubtedly am not racist since I have a loving son of color, I would never want to hide his history and heritage from him. If we remove the confederacy from the history books, we would need to remove slavery in return because you would have no one to blame the civil war on and the reasons for it. Unfortunately people like Dave above me here still exist but I can honestly say that I have now found a reason to stop reading Hotty Toddy since you are speaking for the country and speaking out of the side of your a**. .
Barry Johnson
October 30, 2015 at 1:18 pm
It is obvious our current flag is not a unifying symbol, otherwise so many Mississippians would not be arguing over it. You do not see Texans fighting among themselves over their flag. A state flag should represent the people whereas our current flag represents a problem.
The right thing to do is for the legislature to find a better design. It is that simple. Those who wish to display the Confederate battle flag have every right to do so, but a state flag needs to reflect who we are today and serve as a symbol for everyone.
Take it down and change it.
Bill Catalina
October 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Tim,
I really don’t know where to begin but Washington & Lee University would be a good place to start. Three percent (3%) of the student body is black. 97% is white. You probably know what happened there so I won’t mention it. So why does 97% have to bend over backward to appease 3%? When oh when are white folks going to get a pair of balls instead of being a wimped out, politically correct pussy like you & my old school chum Sparky R. Here’s a hint…the Civil War & slavery ended just over 150 years ago. April 9th. 1865. Blacks today are as far removed from slavery as the Constellation Andromeda from Mother Earth. Its people like yourself and Sparky who somehow, someway feel they have to coddle black folks, toe the politically correct line and continue the degradation of our Southern Heritage. I would love to see you and dear old Sparky in the assault line during Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. That took courage beyond belief knowing you were going to die or be inflicted with horrible wounds. Something tells me that you & old Spark would be on your knees crying for mommy. I finished a UN Humanitarian contract in Sudan in 2009 as a pilot. I’ve worked in T’Chad, Sudan, Angola (not Louisiana) and South Africa. When the colonialists were driven out of Africa, the continent went tits up. I’ve seen what has been destroyed since then; the infrastructure, the medical facilities, the institutions of learning, any learning. Many REAL Africans are now clamoring for the French, British & Portuguese to return. Believe me, our so-called “African Americans” have no idea where Africa is and could give a damn less. A final thought: our “African Americans” are wrong to be so enamored of “their” Africa. Their worthless butts would be out in the “street” starving to death or inside a locked CONEX metal box in the broiling hot sun while using the metal floor for defecating and eating. By the way, with no friends and no family, you get no food. I use the term “street” loosely as most of these places have no streets. I know I’m fighting a lost cause. I’m just very damn glad that I am 66 years of age. My greatest fear is reincarnation – to return and see what fools like you have wrought upon my country for which I went to Vietnam just so “intellectuals” such as yourself could go to school and beddy-bye all tucked in & comfy at night. Bill Catalina – Tallahassee, FL. – My book: Over & Back by Wild Bill Callahan – on Amazon.
KD
October 30, 2015 at 10:59 pm
I’m sick and tired of hearing about it. It doesn’t matter what the will of the people is (we can see this clearly in the vote for the mascot; i.e., repressing the vote of those who nominated the Colonel). Just tell the all-mighty powers-that-be to do whatever they want. We peons mean nothing, oh, except when it comes to our donations and tuition, right?
Bill Catalina
October 31, 2015 at 9:45 am
Exactly KD. Hit ’em where it hurts. The pocketbook. If we all got together, withheld all contributions and donations, that would restore order & end the pitiable correctness going on in society today. Problem is, we got too many bleeding hearts like Tim & Sparky who think we owe “them” something. Those that we did owe, died over a hundred years ago.
Tim Heaton
October 31, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Bill Catalina – First, thank you for your service. I’m looking forward to reading your books. You’ve lived quite a life.
The main point I want to make about the current flag is that it is not the original state flag of Mississippi. This flag came about during the Jim Crow era, some forty years after the first Mississippi state flag, aka the Magnolia Flag, was flown at the start of the Civil War. The Magnolia Flag incorporates the South’s first national banner, the Bonnie Blue Flag in the left corner. By the way, the song, “The Bonnie Blue Flag” was the second popular battle hymn after “Dixie”. Both tunes where composed by Harry Macarthy in Jackson MS in 1861. This all bound to get out sooner or later.
Anyhow, my point is that the current flag design was almost certainly used to promote segregation. Far from a PC banner, the Magnolia Flag is the honest to God Mississippi tradition.
Bill Catalina
November 1, 2015 at 9:24 am
Tim,
Thank you for not insulting me like I did to you. Shows a lot of class in your direction. I blame my ire it on what’s happening not only in Mississippi but across the USA. The P.C. is getting way out of hand. Well, I’m not going to change your mind & you’re not going to change mine. I knew going in that it would come to an impasse. I just can’t see leaving well enough alone. The removal of Col. Reb was nothing short of appeasement & outright stupidity. My only hope is that the great majority of donations are withheld from Old Miss and parents send their kids someplace else. The destruction of our Southern Heritage just leads to “give us more, more, more.” For what? You need to see what’s happened to my hometown of Clarksdale, MS. The Mayor & Governor had to send in State Troopers to restore order from all the assaults, robberies and murders. The 50s & 60s it “ain’t no mo'”. All I can do is remember life as it was and what I saw in Africa.
Bill Catalina, Tallahassee, FL
Tim Heaton
November 1, 2015 at 10:08 am
Bill Catalina-
No problem at all sir, Truth be told I feel that doing away with Col .Rebel was overkill. Why does KFC get to keep their Fried Chicken Colonel? Besides, the Ole Miss logo was one of the top in sports.
That said, I support the University whether I think it was a poor decision or not. BTW, if the PCs start up some BS over the Ole Miss nickname…well… “them’s fight’in words”
Reach out to me sometime.
-Tim
TampaRebel
November 1, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Hear hear! It’s amazing how similar our growing up experiences were, from Bramlett Elementary to graduating from Ole Miss, and how similar our opinions are on the Confederate symbols that we were marinated in growing up. It’s so annoying having people question my Southern, Mississippi and Ole Miss credentials just because I have taken the time and energy to think outside of my privilege box. It’s so refreshing to hear another proud Mississippian, proud Oxonian and proud Ole Miss Rebel with the courage and integrity to stand up and make the SOUTHERN case for letting go of the, almost psychopathic, clinging to four short years of some of the worst of Mississippi’s history. Symbols of the confederacy belong in museums along with symbols of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. They are symbols of shameful abuses that we should learn lessons from, not aspire to.
Hotty Toddy!
Arnold Slaughter
November 1, 2015 at 8:00 pm
I am convinced that those who support the current state flag don’t understand or don’t care about the perception that it presents to others outside of the state. They think that the stated is filled with redneck racists who hold on to the relics of slavery because they actually believe the South will rise again. If that is the brand you are seeking keep the flag. Your heritage includes the enslavement of black people. You heritage includes losing a Civil War. Why are you proud of that????
John Clowney
November 2, 2015 at 8:36 am
“Many believed that Mississippians voted along racial lines. However, this was not necessarily the case. As a matter of pragmatic fact, only 13% of Caucasian voters had to vote for change in order for the new flag to be victorious at the ballot box. Unofficial and unscientific exit polls suggested that more than 20% of white voters said the flag should change. What’s more interesting is that in certain counties where an overwhelming majority of the population is African American, the vote was roughly split.”
https://flagspot.net/flags/us-ms-rf.html
C-Wheels
November 2, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Folks, I too am ashamed at how our country has become so overly PC about every little thing. However, I was living in Europe in 2001 when the flag referendum was held. And when the result of the vote hit the front page of the Stars and Stripes Newspaper, I had a really hard time justifying to myself (and the families that I was associated with) why in the 21st century we Mississippians could not just move on and help our state move on…..economically, socially, etc. Maybe this is one tradition we can live without? Oh, and you’d better believe the fight over the name “Rebels” is coming. Start developing your arguments.
Tim Heaton
November 2, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Thanks everyone for their comments. I too am annoyed by all of today’s PC – see my comments about that up about five.
I believe that if the administration of the University had stood up to the politicians during James Meredith’s bid to enroll, that the traditional symbols of the University would be intact and impervious. However, the rebel flag was not one of these symbols.
The rebel flag, as I pointed out in my article, was not a symbol of Ole Miss until Ross Barnett made it one. Also, the current MS flag with the rebel banner was not the original flag of Mississippi. The original flag (the Magnolia Flag circa 1861) doesn’t shirk from history, it is our history, PC and all.
Did Mississippi make mistakes? Assuredly. But I know that the people in this state live together better than any other. Time to prove it to the world.
Hotty Toddy,
Tim
Bill Catalina
November 4, 2015 at 9:55 am
Well, this has become quite an experience but not unexpected. So we just forget everything & throw it all in museums? Great idea. I’m being facetious.
We’ve got some great black people in the U.S. from Dr. Carson on down & in Africa. Here’s the problem in a nutshell; ‘there ain’t enough of ’em.’ I’ve seen in my hometown of Clarksdale what happens when good people toe the line. The go-along to get-along, monkey-see, monkey-do attitude at its worst.
No one commented on the Mayor of Clarksdale & the Governor having to send in State Troopers to control the out-of-control murders, rapes, assaults & robberies in Clarksdale committed by….guess who? Why no responses to the Washington & Lee University situation: 97% bend over for 3%.
Here’s a quote from what I wrote my sister while this discussion was in play:
“Two countries in Africa that I should have mentioned, Kenya & South Africa, are still viable economies only because their infrastructure was so well intact prior to the turnover…..thanks to the British in Kenya and the Dutch in South Africa. It’s taking a while longer for Africans to destroy it all due to massive corruption, bad management & out & out laziness.
The shame of it all is that there are plenty of good, hard working blacks in Africa & the USA, but none of the good are in power. Look at Stupid in the White House and what he’s done.
The best thing that can happen to Ole Miss is for the white folks to get together, withhold all donations & send their kids someplace else.
No, I ain’t holding my breath.
White folks is stupid…..and getting stupider. Gullibility knows no bounds.
Hey Tim, I know your heart is good but when we give in and collapse, it’s kind of like the water you see in your toilet when you flush. A nice whirlpool going down. No, I’m not a racist. I love to hear people call me that, then I send them a photo of me with my “UN Humanitarian Air Services” aircraft behind me and a photo of me delivering polio vaccine to real Africans. Unless we can get “these people” educated, stop having “my babies daddy” babies, start showing some semblance of self-respect to themselves and responsibility to others, and stop us “white folks” from enabling it all, we’re doomed to the slow death of South Africa. One thing we can do is stop buying drugs from them but that ain’t gonna’ happen either. So, we’re back to my favorite quote:
My Greatest Fear is Reincarnation. God Help Us.
Bill Catalina
November 5, 2015 at 8:52 am
Oh. I forgot to mention St. Thomas, St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Spent two years there as a pilot. Same thing. Blacks in control. System corrupt. Services crippled. Surly attitudes.
I was watching the Super Bowl on TV back in ’83. Power went off five times in the first quarter. White folks in charge of the power plant had gone home for holidays….left the controls to….you know who. With a hearty, bellowing “SHIT” & many other choice words, I turned the damn TV off.
Yea, let’s dump all the Confederate stuff in museums to pacify the sad sake of 17% of our African/American population. Great idea. Great idea. Now you brain dead pussies go vote for Hillary. What the hell, let’s destroy the son of a bitch country.
Tim Heaton
November 27, 2015 at 7:35 am
The original Mississippi flag that many advocate i.e. the Magnolia Flag, is not without controversy. That flag includes the Bonny Blue Flag which was the first CSA banner. The Magnolia Flag was adopted by the Mississippi legislature on the eve of the Civil War. The Bonnie Blue Flag was the inspiration of one of the most popular battle hymns of the war.
From Wikipeadia””The Bonnie Blue Flag”, also known as “We Are a Band of Brothers”, is an 1861 marching song associated with the Confederate States of America. The words were written by the Ulster-Scots entertainer Harry McCarthy, with the melody taken from the song “The Irish Jaunting Car”. The song’s title refers to the unofficial first flag of the Confederacy, the Bonnie Blue Flag.
Here’s the first verse:
We are a band of brothers and native to the soil
Fighting for the property we gained by honest toil
And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Southern rights, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.
The song is featured in many films. GWTW and practically every film and documentary about the war…including Ken Burns outstanding documentary, The Civil War. The Bonnie Blue Flag was written in Jackson Miss by Mr. McCarthy.
If we’re going to battle over a flag, let’s at least make it a Mississippi one.
HYDR