#RedFlagPodcast: Ole Miss, the Disneyland of the Confederacy

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

Mississippi is the last state in the U.S. to actively fly the Confederate flag within its own state flag.

Many public institutions and universities, such as The University of Mississippi, have respectively decided not to fly the Mississippi state flag in years past due to its controversial history that many claim is southern heritage.

RedFlagPodcast—a podcast made by a “group of Mississippians”—not only delves into the history of the University of Mississippi, but it also depicts the history of the state and how it is changing itself from within.

“We have the opportunity to showcase the future of our state, not the past,” RedFlagPodcast’s website states. “We want out listeners to shape the outcome of that story.”

On this week’s podcast (episode 5), “Ole Miss, the Disneyland of the Confederacy,” the group digs further into systematic racism, the history of racism within the university and the confederacy.

In April 17, 2001, the state of Mississippi was presented with the Mississippi Flag Referendum, also known as State Flag Election, on a special election ballot. The referendum gave residents of the state two options for the state flag: Proposition A and Proposition B.

Proposition A was the current flag, which consists of the 1894 Confederate battle cross.

Proposition B consisted of a similar flag with three stripes; however, in place of the Confederate flag was a navy backdrop with a circle of stars.

Voters confirmed to keep Proposition A, which remains as the state’s current flag. 

For past episodes, listen to RedFlagPodcast via iTunes. For more information on the podcast, visit their website, www.podastery.com.