I suspect that the rebel flag means more to a southern white man than simply plantations and slavery, but I doubt that to a black man they are able to see it for anything but that. In the same respect, I doubt that gold chains and do-rags means the same thing to a black man than what a white man views it as on a black man: a drug dealer, a dead beat dad, a criminal. And while both of those stereotypes do represent a segment of those groups, the fact that society labels EVERY rebel flag wearer as a racist and EVERY gold-chain wearing do-rag wearing black male as a criminal is the reason why it's polarizing.
Yes, wearing a symbol of the worst atrocity that's ever been committed in our nation's history (along with our treatment of Native Americans) is the same thing as a black man wearing a doo-rag.
I met a black guy that is a friend of a friend and he would wear the confederate flag on his shirt and even had it on his truck. He said it was his culture and his history. I don't like the confederate flag and it blew my mind that apparently there is a whole group of black people who like the confederate flag and fly it proudly.
Quite possibly the dumbest line in a song full of them: LL's mama said to knock him out. What a joke.
The problem you are having with this is that you see the rebel flag as representing ONLY terrible and atrocious things. I'm not sure why you don't look at the American Flag and say the same thing. You can't see any gray in it at all, but there is a huge part of the rebel flag and its meaning you don't get because you aren't southern. But people (both black and white) see it differently than you and I suspect that that's how it should be.
But it's an actual symbol of racism and bigotry whether those proudly wearing it or flying it are looking at it that way or not. Doo-rags and gold chains are only symbols of stereotypes because racist white people make it that way. Racist black people didn't make slave owners use rebel flag. The fact that I am southern and have seen the flag used for racist purposes far more than for the "southern heritage" argument is why I believe this. I've seen this bull**** firsthand. Equating the two is completely offensive.
You're taking it too literally. All they are saying is, we have nothing to do with what happened back then, so why interact with each other, now, like there are hard feelings? Wipe the slate clean, so both sides can interact without any issues.
I think you guys are missing the point of the song. Accidental Racism. They didn't intend anything by their attire. They say sorry for judging a book by the cover, and if there is any doubt, to talk to the person before assuming, they are racist. I remember one time in my younger days I was screwing around at a retail job and was "freestyling" and said jiggaboo pie being completely ignorant of it being a racial slur. A black guy came over, and before he decided to kick my ass, said, "Son, I'm not sure you know, but that term is extremely offensive to black people." I asked him what he meant by that, because again, I had no idea what it meant and didn't even know how I knew the word. Once he told me, apologized immediately, and said I had no idea. I think that is what the song is trying to say. Before we decide to hate, find out that person's story first.
That's because they're ignorant. It was never a symbol of southern anything leading up to the Confederacy. This was a battle flag taken into a war for slavery. It didn't represent anything but that.
So would Paisley be cool with Germans embracing their heritage and walking around with Nazi symbols? I mean...it is their history and heritage after all.
Dear Mr.Hitler Youth, don't judge me by my gold loot, just because my name ends with stein, i wont have a problem with yours, if you dont have a problem with mine this isn't by design, it's accidental, done without an instrumental, simple pain thats from the mental, so please be gentle i understand when you raise your hand, it's to give a five to a friend, not to make a stand, you dont support hitler, you're not the klan, but how am i supposed to know, i'm just a jewish man -from the new remix, "Accidental Nazi" by Brad Paiselstein ft. LL Cool Yamaka
Oh my god. I don't give a **** what each individual was fighting for. That flag was created to represent the Confederacy and the Confederacy was created to defend the right to keep slaves. You can't white wash all of that with southern belles, pecan pie, and iced tea.
Look, I like Brad Paisley and all, and I get the meaning of this song, but this is so poorly written. I realize there's a good intent behind it, but the rebel flag is and will always be associated with slavery and not much else. Most who wear it, in their defense, are ignorant to the fact that it stands as a battle cry for slavery, and wear it solely to proclaim that they are a proud "redneck." I'm not even going to touch on how Brad Paisley was born and raised in West Virginia, either. If I remember correctly, West Virginia was a state that seceeded from a Confederate state (Virginia) to join the Union, and spent most of the war there... But I like Paisley still.
They should have just re-made this song: Spoiler <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PSvnIwg0lEA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
LOL that was awful, every single part seemed like a joke or parody.... Here, yall listen to something good... <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jz52ih8HgPw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
