As a Southerner I am appalled that the Confederate battle flag has been expropriated by evil people to become a symbol for race hatred, a purpose which desecrates it and dishonors all those OF ALL RACES who fought under it, not to defend slavery but their homeland. It is very well documented (despite lies to the contrary) that about 70,000 Southerners "of color" fought in uniform and armed (often dieing or facing imprisonment) as member of Confederate forces (both national and State).
It would be far more effective in reducing race hate in the South if Southern African Americans would embrace this symbol as theirs. Do not allow it to be used as Dylan Roof did. By recognizing that so many "colored" Southerners loved the South, they will help rid our land of the evils of "reconstruction", the program by which the South was pillaged. The same forces that engineered the evil of reconstruction were allied with the Yankee absentee landlords that were responsible for the worst evils of slavery.
Slavery is an ancient institution in Africa, but it is an evil institution. It is true that there are idealized forms of it that have benefits, and many Africans have, for thousands of years, seen it as a way out of even worse conditions. Voluntary slavery differs little from indentureship, but much of the slavery practiced in Africa and exploited to the rest of the world is just the result of tribal warfare or religion-based terror. In many cases, it has just been pure human trafficking. Many nations outside Africa practice slavery in industry, and slavery can take many forms.
Africans immigrated to America under a variety of circumstances. Large numbers came to this country involuntarily as chattle slaves. Others came as indentured servants (many of whom were betrayed when they arrived in America and forced into slavery. Others came as free people, some bringing slaves with them. For the most part they faced hostile conditions after they arrived. However, many, even before 1860, thrived. Some became wealthy (and were among the wealthiest people in America.
African Americans have fought bravely for their nation (on both sides in the War Between the States). The first American to die in the Revolution is usually considered to be Crispus Attucks, an African American. During the Revolution, African Americans were members (both as free and slave) of Southern militias. They served in the Confederate forces as equals, some even being officers. No Northern or federal forces (except naval) were integrated until after WWII.
