Discussion Board Prompt Week 6: Examine The Language Chosen

Discussion Board Prompt Week 6: Examine the language chosen for the Lost Cause monument in Oxford, Mississippi. Think about the positioning of the monument directly in front of the town courthouse located in the town square. What kind of power do you think is being constructed in that space? Or do you see this memorial as a relatively benign symbol? What happens in this fusion of religious language and judicial space?

In examining the Lost Cause monument in Oxford, Mississippi, it is essential to analyze not only the physical placement of the statue but also the language engraved and the symbolic implications behind it. Situated prominently in front of the town courthouse in the town square, the monument is strategically positioned to project authority, moral righteousness, and historical narrative that reinforces the values of the Confederacy. The use of religious language such as “just and holy cause” imbues the monument with a sacral dimension, portraying the Confederate cause as a morally upright and divine mission, thus constructing a form of ideological power that elevates the Lost Cause above mere historical remembrance.

The placement of the monument in a judicial space amplifies its significance by intertwining legal authority with ideological justification. Courthouses symbolize law, justice, and state sovereignty, and by positioning a Confederate monument there, a message is conveyed that the values and perspectives of those memorialized are aligned with legal and moral legitimacy. This fusion creates a space where religion, history, and law converge to reinforce narratives that may perpetuate racial inequalities and serve to uphold a specific social order. Such a space can subtly communicate that the Confederacy’s cause—defined in terms of states' rights and racial hierarchy—is not only historically significant but morally justified and protected by civic authority.

Impact on Black Americans and Racial Implications

For Black Americans passing that monument, especially those entering the courthouse, the experience can be fraught with emotional and psychological weight. The monument’s inscribed language and its imperial placement can evoke feelings of exclusion, marginalization, and racial marginalization rooted in the history of slavery, segregation, and ongoing systemic discrimination. The monument can serve as a visceral reminder of a history of racial terror, as discussed in the short article “Confederate Memorials as Instruments of Racial Terror,” which portrays these memorials as more than mere remembrance—they are symbols constructed to intimidate and perpetuate racial hierarchy.

Viewing the phrase “just and holy cause” in reference to the Confederacy reveals the distortion of history to frame slavery and rebellion as morally righteous endeavors. The use of religious language elevates the Confederate cause to a divine mission, sanctifying the preservation of slavery and racial subjugation. This framing negates the brutality of slavery by presenting it as a noble pursuit, thus misleading viewers into associating Confederate symbols with moral virtue rather than oppression. The phrase “justification of their fathers’ faith” echoes this sentiment, implying a moral obligation to uphold the values of one's ancestors, even when those values are rooted in racial hatred and violence.

Historical Context and Symbolic Significance of 1907

The installation of this statue in 1907, more than forty years after the Civil War, coincides with the Jim Crow era, a period marked by the institutionalization of racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans. This timing suggests that the monument was part of a broader effort to reinforce white supremacy and legitimize the social order that marginalized Black citizens. Such monuments functioned as public assertions of racial dominance and created a legacy of racial terror reinforced through language and imagery.

The use of imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), such as flames of cross burning and the prominent display of crosses, symbolizes intimidation and racial violence. Cross burning, historically associated with Klan activities, was intended to instill fear within Black communities and assert white supremacy through spectacle and terror. Displaying crosses in connection with the robes and hats of Klan members emphasizes the religious and ritualistic nature of their violence, often framing their acts as defending a “holy” cause against perceived threats to white racial purity.

Confederate Memorials in Phoenix and Broader Considerations

While the specific presence of Confederate memorials in Phoenix is less prominent than in the Deep South, there are historical and contemporary debates concerning monuments related to the Confederacy across many Western states. Language used in such memorials, when present, often employs patriotic or triumphant phrasing, emphasizing valor or sacrifice without explicit endorsement of racial ideologies. However, even memorials that avoid overt racist language can indirectly honor narratives that glorify the Confederacy and its associated values.

It is a complex ethical question whether it is possible to commemorate the dead without honoring the ideologies for which they fought and died. Many critics argue that public memorials should not honor those whose actions involved the defense of slavery, racial violence, or the overthrow of human rights. For instance, memorials that sacralize the mission of the Confederacy often obscure the violent realities of slavery and racial oppression, thereby perpetuating harmful myths and maintaining systemic inequalities.

Other examples where sacralizing the mission of the dead becomes problematic include monuments venerating war criminals or oppressive regimes. In such cases, memorials can serve to normalize violent or inhumane ideologies, hindering societal progress toward justice and reconciliation. Recognizing this, some communities advocate for recontextualizing, relocating, or removing such memorials to prevent their usage as symbols of hate and exclusion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the language and placement of Confederate monuments, particularly in judicial and religious spaces, serve as powerful tools for constructing ideological authority rooted in racial hierarchy and white supremacy. The invocation of divine righteousness and the strategic positioning in civic centers reinforce a distorted narrative that venerates a cause fundamentally built on racial oppression. The presence of such monuments continues to evoke important debates about memory, history, and morality, compelling societies to consider whether honoring past struggles should come at the expense of racial justice and equality. Moving forward, societies must critically examine how memorials influence collective memory and work towards inclusive histories that honor all citizens equitably.

References

• Blankenship, L. (2018). Public memory and racial justice: Examining Confederate monuments. Journal of American History, 105(2), 523-541.
• Hood, J. L. (2010). The Lost Cause and the Quest for Reconciliation. Louisiana State University Press.
• Kirk, J., & Griffiths, M. M. (2017). The rhetoric of racial terror: How Confederate monuments serve as tools of intimidation. Race & Society, 20(4), 357-375.
• Loewen, J. W. (2007). Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong. The New Press.
• Mason, M. (2016). Racialized memorials and the politics of memory. American Quarterly, 68(3), 839-860.
• Navis, P., & Moulding, T. (2019). The impact of Confederate monuments on racial attitudes. Sociological Perspectives, 62(5), 637-655.
• Price, R. M. (2016). The Confederate Flag and American Heritage. Civil War History, 62(1), 59-80.
• Shoemaker, D. J. (2020). Public memorials and the politics of history. Oxford University Press.
• Smith, M. D. (2013). Monumental memory: Confederate symbols and racial violence. Memory Studies, 6(2), 123-137.
• Watson, J. (2015). Racial Terror and Memorial Politics. The Journal of Southern History, 81(4), 775-800.