Inflammatory or reconciliation?

[lspencer534]

Pretend that you're driving North on I-55 through Jackson, Miss. On the roadside you see this billboard:



Yep, the slogan of the Civil Rights Movement depicted by Confederate flags. It's true, the billboard is real, and it's currently standing. This flag has always evoked strong feelings: "It's a terrorist billboard. I'm terrified of it. That's a symbol of terror," said Nettie Stowers, of Jackson.

So what would bring someone in their right mind to combine such antithetical symbols?

You may be in for a surprise: The owner of the film company behind the "We Shall Overcome" billboard that has the letters written in confederate flags is an actress who spent much of her young life in Mississippi.

Many people have taken offense at various aspects of the billboard, and it has been questioned why anyone with an understanding of Mississippi would put up such an inflammatory and seemingly threatening billboard.

Aunjanue Ellis, who was in "The Help," "Men of Honor," and "Ray," among other movies, is president of Miss Myrtis Films, her company that had the billboard erected.

This is her e-mail response to the local newspaper about the sign: "There are those who would claim sole ownership of these symbols and those who would wish them gone, but we are all as Mississippians connected to both of them," the email reads. "There are wounds in Mississippi that have not healed and this billboard we hope to use as a way to bring communities together for a long overdue talk about those wounds and that connectivity."

This is a pic of Ms. Ellis:

[island14]

If I was driving down the road and saw that sign I probably would not have even noticed the little flags, and had to look real hard to see them in the photo above.

Doubt I would even have caught the black reference, and would have probably thought a baptist church put it up.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by island14

If I was driving down the road and saw that sign I probably would not have even noticed the little flags, and had to look real hard to see them in the photo above.

Doubt I would even have caught the black reference, and would have probably thought a baptist church put it up.

In person, the Confederate flags are very obvious.

[island14]

Again even if I had noticed it was Confederate flags, and being in the south I would not have thought anything.

For me Confederate flags have always been a southern thing, and not once in the past did I ever think of it as racist in any way... and still would not even know that some do think of it that way if I had not read about it here and at CF.

[Norm]

Of course you noticed the commercial with the Dukes boys, no flags anywhere on the roofs, old car, new car, or otherwise.

[Grey Ghost]

The Confederate Battle Flag is being just as misrepresented on that sign as it was with the bikers, KKK, and rednecks that displayed it fortheir own agenda over the last decades. I think she is just trying to stir the pot for her agenda.

When I see it. I think of the CW battlefields and soldiers. It is to the point these days (due to the PC of the last 15-20 yrs.) that it isn't even displayed at many of the national battlefield parks.

That is it's real history. Used on the battlefield to guide soldiers. Other people have been forced to believe it represents something else by the groups that I mentioned.

My GG-Grandfather fought and died under that flag. It was furled in 1865, and in my opinion should have only been brought out for special purposes - veteran funerals, parades, reenactments, CW history, etc...but, those groups of people have turned it into something else.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

The Confederate Battle Flag is being just as misrepresented on that sign as it was with the bikers, KKK, and rednecks that displayed it fortheir own agenda over the last decades. I think she is just trying to stir the pot for her agenda.

When I see it. I think of the CW battlefields and soldiers. It is to the point these days (due to the PC of the last 15-20 yrs.) that it isn't even displayed at many of the national battlefield parks.

That is it's real history. Used on the battlefield to guide soldiers. Other people have been forced to believe it represents something else by the groups that I mentioned.

My GG-Grandfather fought and died under that flag. It was furled in 1865, and in my opinion should have only been brought out for special purposes - veteran funerals, parades, reenactments, CW history, etc...but, those groups of people have turned it into something else.

I never viewed the Confederate Battle Flag as a symbol of racism; as you say, it was used in battle to guide soldiers. Even my alma mater, Ole Miss, no longer call its athletes Rebels. They're now the Black Bears or something like that. "Col. Rebel" was a cartoon character who never acted racist nor said anything racist. He was simply a damned mascot!

Is Georgia racist for having a bulldog as its mascot? Or the LSU Tigers? Come on, folks...you're reading way, way too much into these "symbols".

[MrPeabody]

I wouldn't give it much thought if I saw it. We place far too much emphasis on symbols in our society. I also wouldn't give it much thought if it were swastikas, Mexican flags or whatever. We need to put emphasis on actions, not symbols. Perhaps the money spent on the billboard would have been better spent on an action, like a scholarship fund or a donation to a library.

In retirement, my life has become more focused on doing things to make a difference in my community rather than talking about it or criticizing it. It's nice to have the time to actually do something. The volunteering at the hospital and the Grand Jury are occupying a lot of my time, and I've never felt better.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by island14

If I was driving down the road and saw that sign I probably would not have even noticed the little flags, and had to look real hard to see them in the photo above.

Doubt I would even have caught the black reference, and would have probably thought a baptist church put it up.

If I noticed the flags, I'd be thinking "ok, whatever... rednecks" or something of that sort. Frankly, I don't give a flying f***.

[CBonsall]

how the hell is it a terrorist billboard?

[Kerrmudgeon]

If it was put up by a white man there would be hell to pay!