About the Confederate Memorial Day in Texas

DESCRIPTION:

On different days, Confederate Memorial Day is observed in most former states of The Confederacy. In some cases, like Georgia, it is no longer referred to as Confederate Memorial Day but rather as a state holiday. It is an official state holiday that honors the men who died fighting for The Confederacy during the American Civil War, 1861-1865.

The dates are as follows:

Alabama, Georgia: 4th Monday in April

Mississippi: Last Monday in April

Florida: April 26;

Tennessee, Kentucky & Louisiana: June 3, Jefferson Davis's birthday in 1808

North & South Carolina: May 10, Anniversary of the death of General "Stonewall" Jackson in 1863

Texas: January 19, Birthday of Robert E. Lee 1807;

Due to the 400-year legacy of slavery (ending in 1865) and state-supported racial segregation (ending in 1964), this event is highly contentious and seen as a celebration of racism by many critics. Detractors insist this plays into existing racism and celebrates white supremacy and slavery.

Proponents insist that the Confederacy played a part in shaping who we are, and to deny a portion of our past, good and bad, is selective censorship. Both sides have points. Confederate Memorial Day can be used to explore the unspoken but oft-deployed prejudices, which are real. It also opens discussions of extreme political correctness, which squelches debate and is equally intolerant.

Whether you side with the detractors or the proponents, the best way to acknowledge this day is to spend some time reading the Constitution of the United States and learning history. History, not social studies. History teaches the how and why; social studies do not.

A great place to start is with Howard Zinn's "Peoples' History of the United States," which some states, including Arizona, have tried to ban from their schools. Why? Because it is the history of the American people, not the leaders, barons, and wealthy. It looks at the nation from the perspective of the 99%, the immigrants, migrant workers, women, religious minorities, Native Americans, slaves, and the common man.

The Confederacy existed, and it impacted and continues to impact American history. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away, and squashing debate on it doesn't work. Learning about it and understanding the whys and hows is the best defense against a second tearing asunder.

Listen/Watch Howard Zinn's Peoples History of the United States: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCHuPpyoyBQ&list=PLCtsSTwQSIOKrtS_vyTAVuWLGnCB7Dbs8.