This past Mother’s Day, Mr. Penn and his family removed Confederate flags from the graves of Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War. Mr. Penn, fully aware of the Confederate flag’s historical significance as a symbol for the deplorable institution of slavery in the Southern United States, mentioned that he removed the flags for his 4-year-old son. “The reason why we picked them up is because the image of the flags in our community, a lot of people feel that they’re a symbol of divisiveness and oppression of many people in our community,” Penn said. “Especially with the history that that flag and the connotation and negativism that it brings. I would think that no one in our community would have a problem with this or with my actions at all.” he says.

Of course, the white supremacists of the town were incensed at Mr. Penn’s decision to remove the flags from the grave sites. One white woman named Rebecca Atkins, said “It’s not about race or the flag or anything else. It’s about decency and respect for the dead. You don’t do stuff like that,” says Atkins, who also has family members who were Confederate soldiers. “You got to give respect where it’s deserved and those soldiers gave their lives just like any other soldier gives their lives. It’s nothing racial and it’s not about discrimination. You look at the person who served for our country and that’s what matters.”

White supremacists in that particular area are currently organizing to voice their opposition against the decision. A group organized on Facebok by the name of the Defenders of the Confederate Cross is planning a protest in Union Springs next month. It is scheduled to take place June 19-20. Although the white supremacist parties involved in this situation allege that they mean no harm towards Mr. Penn, recent events occurring around the country involving the murders of Melanoid people at the hands of members of the dominant society would imply otherwise. Let us keep in mind that many of the white supremacists in Union Springs, Alabama who defend their opposing stance against Mr. Penn’s decision are the same individuals who support and identify with the white supremacists who wish harm–and in many instances death–upon the innocent Melanoid youth who demonstrated their frustrations with this racist system by walking on the American flag in Albany, Georgia last month.

Follow this link to get the story on Myron Penn, and his fight against the racist citizens of Union Springs, Alabama.

by B. Clark

Robert Tomanovich, a tree trimmer by occupation, decided to hang a noose from a tree. In addition to the noose, Tomanovich added a Confederate flag, with a sign that read: “I ain’t coming down,” which was placed on a nearby fence. According to reports, a second noose was hung from a tree outside of a second home, which is also owned by Tomanovich.

One of Tomanovich’s tree-trimming employees, who co-signs his boss’s antics, spoke on behalf of Tomanovich, who was  unavailable because he had retreated inside of his house to avoid speaking to the press. His employee was asked by local reporters to give his thoughts on what had transpired. The employee, who chose to remain nameless, responded by saying: “I love it. Screw ’em. We’re going to put up more.”

Here is a video clip of the news report via ABC 7 in Detroit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyX4t6e-Ae8

Here is a link to the story.

by B. Clark

At this point, many people are quite familiar with the infamous ‘Willie Lynch Syndrome’ that is often referenced during dialogues regarding the overall morale of Melanoid people. What many do not discuss, however, is that the lingering effects of this theorized affliction have caused some Melanoid people to empathize and celebrate the heritage of the Confederate Army that fought against the Union forces during the Civil War.

The Civil War, which ended 150 years ago in 1865, was not fought by either side to ensure the freedom and better quality of life for the Slaves in this country at the time. In spite of this historical fact, there are a certain number of Melanoid individuals who remain unapologetic for their support of the old Confederate South.

Perhaps the frontrunner to this movement of Melanoid apathy for the Antebellum South is a Melanoid man by the name of H.K. Edgerton. Mr. Edgerton once served as the president of the Ashville, N.C. chapter of the NAACP. After parting ways with the NAACP, he now appears to be a proud member of suspected white supremacist organization Sons of Confederate Veterans. Click on the following link to view a short video clip of Edgerton’s passionate recital of Confederate literature, titled I Am Their Flag.

Mr. Edgerton also makes speaking appearances at numerous events that commemorate the Confederate South of the Civil War Era.

Another Melanoid gentleman by the name of Nelson W. Winbush seeks to use his voice to convince the public that the history and legacy of the Confederate culture—and the masses of white Southerners who uphold this culture—are severely misunderstood. Mr. Winbush, also the descendant of a Melanoid Confederate soldier, is often quoted as using the line from a Confederate song titled Black is Just a Darker Shade of Rebel (Confederate) Gray.

Although the Union forces of the Civil War are not exempt from being held accountable for the mistreatment of Melanoid people (often their own Melanoid soldiers) themselves, the ghosts of the Confederate Army of the South—and the legacy of Southern “Heritage not Hate”—that permeates the South to this day heavily evoke the horrifying images of slavery, and the gruesome lynching acts and the Jim Crow laws years later. In today’s time, regardless of the awareness that Melanoid people possess about the debilitating effects of racism/white supremacy to its intended targets, there are more than a few individuals in the Melanoid community who are willing to allow themselves to support institutions which openly and proudly celebrate the enslavement of Melanoid people.

What is unfortunate is that the individuals in our community who choose to support these groups were merely comfortable with their position in this system that has subjugated them their entire lives. Such complacency that exists among many Melanoid people is a glaring trait of the Willie Lynch Syndrome in itself.