The Teen View Forum

Shreya Sunil, 15,  - There is an ongoing uncertainty on whether or not Confederate monuments should be taken down. If this represents the dark, slave-ridden past of the U.S. then it is accurate to say that every single national monument out there should be demolished since they all showcase bits and parts of America’s endemic racist society. It is not correct to delete them from existence, that would be like erasing the past of this prestigious country. We need to keep these monuments thriving to remind us of the dark times that this country had faced together as a strong community, and how we can not repeat the same mistakes our ancestors committed. We need to educate the generations that come after us that equality is right worth fighting. I believe that if we take down these monuments, we are violating the rights of the First Amendment. If you think about it, people don’t have racist hearts just because they get inspired looking at the monuments around them, instead, they are influenced by the racist culture in our society. I don’t think that Mississippi should have removed the Confederate battle flag of their state flag, because the symbol portrays the history of the state, and by taking it away you are erasing the past of what basis the state was originated. Instead of using violence and taking down these monuments, we should instead use those monuments as a means of educating our society about the past. So if we educate our local communities to express equality, then the United States heritage will be preserved and rights will be acquired.

Abby Percy,15,- Should Confederate statues and flags be removed? I 100% agree with the removal of Confederate statues and flags. We are choosing to glorify the wrong parts of our history. These Confederate monuments glorify men who fought for slavery and tried to leave what is now the U.S. These men were unpatriotic and there is no reason to have them displayed as an example of what our country likes to put on a pedestal. These statues were erected in the Jim Crow era as a clear message of white supremacy and warning to African Americans. I feel as though we have had some very influential people of minorities and people who did not support the oppression of others. We could choose to celebrate Native American culture or celebrate those who fought for civil rights, but instead, we see slave owners who tried to leave the country. The analogy I like to use is that the devil plays a very influential role in Catholicism, but you would never walk into a Catholic church and see a statue or painting of the devil. I feel that, by taking down these symbols of the Confederacy, they could be replaced with someone who has had just as large of an impact on American history. It should not be seen as an act of erasing history because we are choosing to glorify wrong parts of history by keeping these monuments. Where are the statues of young Harriet Tubman as a renegade Union spy?

Khushi Patel, 15, - It is important to acknowledge the fact that the monuments that were carved to represent former U.S. leaders, such as Robert E. Lee, were implemented by the South in order to strengthen the agenda of “southern pride” and “white power”. It is disrespectful to African Americans and the ancestors of many African Americans, as those monuments were built to empower the oppression of Black Americans during their experiences with racism and discrimination. To retain the monuments in America suggests that many simply do not want to remove the symbols of racism that the U.S. was founded upon. I believe it is important to remove the Confederate monuments, as well as the Confederate flag off of Mississippi’s state flag because the South should have no reason to be “proud” of their racist heritage against African Americans. It is important to continue educating all American citizens of the discriminatory past that the U.S. had been implemented through, but not by keeping Confederate monuments and flags in public areas; they tend to empower and glorify the racist leaders that once governed the U.S.

Austen Wyche 15,-  With the current debate going on in the country about Confederate monuments and the display of the Confederate flag on government property, I think it is important to remind people that these monuments were erected in the Civil Rights Movement, as a way to intimidate those who fought for equality. I wholeheartedly believe that the statues should be taken down, and moved to museums. Museums are the proper place for these monuments, a place where history can be remembered, not honored.  They are glorifications of hate and bigotry, and should not be portrayed on public property as if the generals were heroes. We should take down these statues in a diplomatic manner through the law, not knocking them down as part of a protest. The removal of Confederate statues must be done peacefully. For statutes of our Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson that owned slaves, they should not be taken down. Instead of taking down the monuments of our Founding Fathers, we should educate Americans on the truth about these figures instead.  I think that it is long overdue in Mississippi to take the Confederate Battle Flag off of their state flag, and it is good that the legislature made the decision to retire the flag. The portrayal of the flag should be allowed on private property, but not on public property, as it is offensive to many African-Americans, including myself. Overall, we should never erase history or prevent the education of it, but structure history in a place where it does not glorify those who represent and fought to defend the original sin of America.  To prevent the past from occurring again, we must preserve our history, but do it in an appropriate manner. 

Bobby Holman, 16, -    History must be displayed: the good and the bad. Should the bad be glorified? Absolutely not. If the people that wanted the statues to remain made legitimate points about state rights and spun it that way, I’d be more convinced. Simply saying southern heritage to justify their position is asinine when realizing these statues were created in times of extreme civil discontent. I fear however that in this crusade Thomas Jefferson will soon be removed and viewed similarly to Robert E. Lee. The recent times have shown it’s not just about the confederates when statues of Thomas Jefferson are torn down. Move the confederate statues legally and put them in a museum so that history will not be destroyed. The Mississippi State flag was retired and probably only due to the economic pressures the SEC threatened against the state. 

Vaishali Ojha, 15, - The use and display of these Confederate monuments is a clear glorification of a dark time in our history that should not be celebrated. Having these statues stand proudly out in the open makes it seem like we want these people to be role models or someone to look up to when in reality, these people represent the very opposite of what this country should be. These people are the epitome of racism and division, as they fought for the separation of the country and the continued oppression of African Americans. This country’s very tenets declare a need to stand united and support and treat all citizens equally. This is very clearly violated by these Confederate monuments that were built on the foundation of hate and bigotry. Move the statues to a museum, so the history behind them isn’t lost but can be reflected on and not repeated. As for the Mississippi flag, the Confederate symbol should be removed. This flag is supposed to represent Mississippian pride, but how can it when it represents such a shameful time in their history? There are other things that Mississippi can be proud of besides the Confederate flag; replace it with something else.