We have been going back and forth with this since forever as to why the 11 states departed, what their motives was, etc. So, I want to share facts, and afterwards, if you still desire to uphold that history and the monuments, do so bravely, because we have the right to believe and support what we desire.
I compared the US constitution with the Confederate Constitution and last I checked, soldiers fight/fought to uphold their constitution. Well, we had two Presidents at the time, Abraham Lincoln (US) and Jefferson Davis (Confederate), therefore we had two constitutions. For the most part, the Confederate states used the exact language and format of the US Constitution, except the confederates used the word SLAVES while the US used OTHER PERSONS. These are the Articles in both constitutions that are identical, but Confederates used the word SLAVES: Article 1 section 2 part 3 in both constitutions/ Article 1 section 9 part 1/ Article 4 section 1 parts 1 and 3. Now the shocker comes in Article 1 Section 9 parts 2 and 4 and they are not mentioned in the US Constitution. Part 4 of the confederate constitution reads "NO Bill of attainder, expost facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property of NEGRO SLAVES SHALL be passed". WOW, so expost facto law means that something can be retroactive overturned or enforced and the confederate states made legislation that could never be challenged, and chattel slavery would exist indefinitely. Look, when I hear people say that they are destroying OUR history, I question your logic because it was only a 4 year period of serious existence before the reconstruction period took its course. Pride can damage many good friendships between races, so let's be careful what we rally for because the underline reasons for its existence may not be who you are today but that narrative can accompany you indirectly. In my opinion, based on the constitution that was written by the confederates on March 11, 1861 and read by me, it served no good purpose for racial unity of people, God, or Jesus, but clearly a roadmap for continuous and legal profit off of the backs of oppressed slaves and a way to keep the white race superior and the blacks inferior, since the word slave was attached to blacks. Remember that soldiers UPHOLD their constitution, so confederate soldiers did their jobs for a time such as that, so to support those 4 years, you are autographing Article 1 section 9 parts 2 and 4 of the confederate constitution, but that's your right. Let's educate ourselves and not fumble around with speculations, for that gets us nowhere. If DR King would have spoken or fought for enslaving whites forever, as a black man, I would be helping to remove all of his statues out of respect for my brothers and sisters of all races that I love, respect and VALUE. Just like taking over a company, old imagery is the first to go or else the workers will be reminded of the past, whether it was good or bad. I am a free thinker, and I love God through loving HUMANS--- Peace & Ubuntu!
Marvin "Merv" Mattair
Husband/Father/Boyz to KINGS Role Model