Confederate Flag Flying

[PineapplePrincess]

Neighbour has started flying a Confederate flag today.

We are a mixed raced family, and I’m feeling a little unsettled by this. They are generally nice people, although we don’t tend to spend much time in their company. They perhaps don’t understand the impact flying the flag would have.

Don’t think I would say anything (altho’ DH May feel differently). But is it unreasonable to feel slightly offended?

Is it possible they're Pantera fans? My husband flew the Confederate flag at bloodstock as an ode to Dimebag. He is very very much not a racist. I did point out that people may think he is. You could ask them....might be this and you wont be worrying about racist neighbours

As you can see by my username he is a biker, and we are metal heads. Theres use if this flag by bands we like who do not stand for racism. It is rebellion.
I wouldnt personally fly it as I'd become a target....liking the idea of flying the jolly roger however

For reference I’m white with no mixed race heritage/ family and find it offensive - you shouldn’t have to but I would ask why they are flying it - kendodds analogy is spot on imo

I’m with your husband I’m afraid, I’d expect anyone who purchased a confederate flag (it’s not exactly ‘pretty’) would understand its meaning personally, and wouldn’t give the benefit of the doubt.

Is it even legal to fly it in the UK? I know there are some restrictions, I remember some guy had to remove a pirate flag once?

flagpoles.co.uk/rules-and-regulations-to-consider-when-installing-a-flagpole-in-your-garden/

There is the chance that they have no real idea of what that means, particularly for a mixed race family. There’s also a chance they know EXACTLY what they’re doing and they think they’re being clever...
I think it’s really odd for UK people to be doing that whatever the reason.

I’m British married to an American from the South so I know exactly what it means there.

Yeah, biker wife here too. DP has confederate rebellion flag in garage. Not permitted for public display but genuinely not to be racist.

Theres use if this flag by bands we like who do not stand for racism. It is rebellion.

It's a bloody stupid flag to choose to use if you're genuine not OK with the worst forms of racism.
It surely never was the flag of 'rebellion' - it was the flag of retaining the status quo of slavery and treating blacks people as subhuman.

We’ve had a neighbour fly it on VE day. Just horrible.

A few US car owners have them as well. They don't have any old American motors etc?

I would assume they don't know what it signifies - which doesn't excuse it.

Reminds me of all those people currently flying Pride flags that they're convinced are NHS support rainbows (when did a rainbow ever have 6 colours?).

Fuck that. Let dh have a word. Either they know fine well the Implications of it, or otherwise, they'd be pleased to be enlightened.

Can't belive this shit still goes on tbb. Boils my piss.

I’m sure here are plenty of other ways to honour dimebag without displaying a racist symbol.

And you can’t really blame people for assuming he’s racist. At the very minimum he doesn’t care about the fact that the flag he’s displaying is hugely offensive.

@Wifeofbikerviking Rex Brown from Pantera started years ago he regrets using the flag... As did Phil Anselmo, but I have issues with anyone who makes Nazi salutes and shouts white power at shows.

This is in the UK?! I assumed America.
I'd let DP go round and ask them what it meant.
And then get the police around if they were racist.

I'm American and live in the northeast. You see no Confederate flags here. Go south of the Mason-Dixon line and there they are. Who outside of the deep South flies the flag, much less in the U.K.? Odd . . .

Mixed race family with this unfortunate conundrum. So odd in the UK🤔

Until not too many years ago there was a fleet of taxis in Sheffield called Confederate Cars that had the flag as its logo. My assumption is people just view it was old time Americana and don't realise its roots. :/

I would definitely pop a note through the door saying I’m sure you don’t mean to cause any offence at all butttt. This is completely unacceptable. Even if it is a biker thing it’s not acceptable at all. I think put it very very nicely but make it clear that as a mixed raced family this is upsetting and offensive.

Even if it is a biker thing

Let’s not tarnish all bikers, I grew up around an MC and know lots of bikers and they’d never dream of having that flag.

Oh gosh yes sorry @MorganKitten I didn’t mean it like that at all. I did a google before I commented and it’s if it could be a biker thing without the history being known - I also don’t meant that as well aren’t all bikers notoriously not into history! Sorry I put that terribly badly and completely agree

Also realise that post is grammatical nonsense 🙄

I think before, people saw it as indie/Americana. But in the last few years there has been so much about its racist meaning it's hard to believe there are people with access to global news and internet that are unaware of its symbolism. Perhaps they are that insulated. So if you don't want to be confrontational, casually mention the very famous and relatively recent Charlotte protests and how racists carried that flag and see how they react.

A cursory google suggests this actually isn't as unusual as you'd think in the UK, and that its certainly a 'thing' in the biking community.

Just to be clear, not excusing its display. I'm not sure if I'd have words or just blank them forever more.