Now that the Confederate battle flag, with all of its perceived imagery of slavery and violence towards blacks, has been officially removed from the state house grounds in Columbia, South Carolina, a counter move has been initiated that calls for the removal of an African-American monument that sits on the east side of the capitol property because it might be considered offensive to whites.
In 2001, controversy brewed over the Civil War flag that had been sitting atop the capitol dome since the 1960s and a vote was cast to relocate the flag to the Confederate memorial. And as a compromise for moving the flag, but keeping it on state house grounds, a monument was erected to honor the history of African-Americans.
The Post and Courier describes the monument: "The monument’s sculptor, Ed Dwight, fashioned the panels to depict stages in black history: A man, woman and infant atop an auction block; a white slave trader beating an enchained African; soldiers marching to battle during the Civil War; the joys of Emancipation; the burdens of Black Codes and Jim Crow; and the will to overcome."
But a new Change.org petition is urging South Carolina lawmakers to remove this monument because they say it is offensive and humiliating for whites:
The African American Monument on the South Carolina State House grounds was erected in 2001 as part of a bi-partisan compromise reached in 2000 to move the Confederate battle flag from the State House dome and place it at the Confederate Soldier's Monument. Given the recent outcry to remove the battle flag from the State House grounds completely, the people of South Carolina view this as a reneging of the 2000 compromise.
Therefore, the people of South Carolina implore the South Carolina State Legislature to pass legislation calling for the removal of the African American Monument from the State House grounds. It has been stated that the battle flag must be removed due to it being offensive to the African American community, and invoking upon that community reminders of the dark history of slavery. To the same point, the African American Monument depicts slave ships, mistreatment and words such as "segregation" and "Jim Crow."
This being the case, it is undeniable that this monument can and does serve to invoke in the white community feelings of shame, humiliation and offense, serving as a constant reminder of the dark history of slavery. Therefore, we the people of South Carolina and citizens the world over implore the Legislature of South Carolina to order the removal of this monument from State Grounds.
The goal is for 50,000 signatures. So far, almost 36,000 people have signed. The creation of this petition appears to be a tit-for-tat response over the flag controversy and will most likely be ignored.
Click here for pictures and a panel-by-panel description of the monument.
