Robert Chase writes on CNN, noting that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, that it is time to honestly reckon with the history of racial violence in the United States, including symbols and decisions that provoke modern-day racist violence.
He suggests: "The first step in this process must be the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's state Capitol. A second could be to change the name of the street where the "Mother" Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church sits from Calhoun Street, named for staunch slavery proponent John C. Calhoun, to Emanuel Street. A third is to initiate national teach-ins on the history of racial violence in America."
He also points out that the historical suppression of black-controlled churches and religion has been a response to black resistance, referring to the killing of nine African-Americans participating in a Bible study at their church. Also, many people in our country equate guns with liberty and ignore the degree to which gun violence has historically also meant the suppression of the liberty and freedom of African-Americans.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/22/opinions/chase-confederate-flag-history-verdict/index.html
