Letter | Good start, Myrtle Beach, but progress shouldn’t stop with the Confederate flag

Progress can’t stop with the Confederate flag

To: Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Chestnut, City Council members and all who gathered

for the hearing about the Confederate flag:

Thank you for your courage and willingness to stand up for what is right.

The Confederate flag must be taken down as soon as possible. The longer it stays on that flag pole, the more divisive it becomes as a symbol of white supremacy, oppression, sovereignty and slavery.

However, the death of the “Emanuel Nine” is too high a price to pay if only the Confederate flag is taken down. There must also be systematic transformation in making life better for African American South Carolinians and marginalized residents of South Carolina and the United States of America.

There must be opportunities for those who have been traditionally locked out of the mainstream of our society. A strong emphasis on education should be a priority, so our children can, for example, graduate from high school reading at a 12th grade level, not an elementary school level.

Economic opportunity for all must also be a priority. We must be intentional about including minority workers in job opportunities such as construction, which is in continuously high demand as we continue to develop our cities and states.

Finally, not only should the Confederate flag be taken down, but a monument should be erected to replace that horrific symbol and honor the sacrifices of the Emanuel Nine, victims of the Orangeburg Massacre, Denmark Vesey, and others who gave their lives to make our country “a more perfect union.”

Let us replace the Confederate flag, a symbol of hate, with a monument to honor sacrifice and love.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 9:25 AM with the headline "Letter | Good start, Myrtle Beach, but progress shouldn’t stop with the Confederate flag."