SCV Stance Against Hatred & Racism
| The Confederate Army was made up of people of all races and creeds. For example, one of the key Cabinet Members and the man called the "Brains of the Confederacy" was Jewish. There were women in high places and with military ranks as high as Captain. Cherokee tribes and others played key rolls in the War between the States as did the Mexican-Americans in the southwest.. (Cherokee General Stand Watie and his men were the last to surrender at the end of the War.) The Confederacy could not have lasted for four years had it not been for the contributions of the African -Americans in the South. We acknowledge that most of them were in the bonds of slavery, but even so, they made huge contributions to the survival of the Confederacy. We will never understand the relationships between the slaves and their masters. By today's mores slavery is an abomination and we cannot understand how it could have been such an institution. But for 300+ years in this land it was the way it was. In spite of conditions that we cannot begin to comprehend,. slaves and free persons of color produced the materials of War; raised the food to feed the armies; protected the woman and children at home; and suffered innumerable injustices at the hands of the invading Northerners. They did not rise up and rebel against those who held them in bondage, even though in some areas they out numbered their masters as much as five to one (more evidence of a relationship we do not understand today). Free African Americans and some still in bondage (some estimate 90,000) fought along side of their white counterparts, receiving equal pay, unlike the Blacks who fought in the North in segregated companies and for less pay. (The first Union officer killed in battle was shot by a Black sharpshooter!) Furthermore, free Black plantation owners made huge financial contributions to the Cause and supplied valuable goods to the armies. (My 4th Great Uncle's regiment, the 1st Louisiana Cavalry, was one of the best outfitted regiments at the beginning of the War do to over $150,000 contributed by Black plantation owners in Baton Rouge!) After the War. Southern Black Confederate Veterans enjoyed the brotherhood and recognition from their white peers. Through-out the South there are monuments to the valor, loyalty and bravery of the these valued men and woman including the Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. There are also many articles over the years in the voice of the veterans - The Confederate Veteran, lauding the contributions of their Black comrades, but not all is good news between the races. Today, unfortunately racism continues to exist in the country. Our beloved Confederate Symbols have been used by some groups in a way inconsistent with what those symbols mean to us. They are also being demonized by those who would use them for political and financial gain. In this light, the Sons of Confederate Veterans categorically denounces all hate groups and misuse of our Confederate Symbols.
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We members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans denounce the KKK and hate groups, as they have no right to use the honorable flag of our Confederate soldiers which included about 93,000 Blacks.
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