Neo-Confederates

In Tara McPherson’s chapter entitled I’ll Take My Stand in Dixie-Net: White Guys, the South, and Cyberspace she discusses a specific online group called Neo-Confederates. Neo-Confederates are a group of people who still cling to the vision of the South before the rebels where defeated in the civil war. They believe the South should succeed from the United States and that the white man should be superior to minorities, particularly blacks. These communities are decorated with Confederate flags and have manifesto statements about what the group wishes to accomplish. These people believe white Southerners should form their own country where they can live amongst only whites.
Neo-Confederates believe in bringing back and preserving Southern heritage. Web pages talk about how these Southerners can reclaim their history. Neo-Confederates pride themselves on being white, masculine males that resemble old Southern leaders like Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. These men where heroes to Southern men during the Civil War, and in many cases are still heroes to the South. Many of these communities separate themselves from the racism involved with Southern Confederates by putting anti-Klan logos on their web pages. Though many of these groups put this appearance on their web page, their all white members often believe in the separation of races.
I think it is a disgrace that people in this country feel the need to cling to a time period where racism and slavery started a war amongst a country. To think that people in this day in age are still bitter about the freedom of human beings hundreds of years ago. Sites like this set out to gain members and intimidate those of different color that may come across their website. They may post anti-Klan logos on their sites, but their focus on an all white male membership clearly shows the presence of racism, something that should have been stopped long ago.
So, are Neo-Confederates racist or just focused on keeping their Southern Heritage? The answer is both. In keeping their Southern Heritage they are keeping the racism and oppression that started the Civil War so long ago. This is a group of people that idolizes men that waged war on our country to oppress African Americans. This is a group of people that is made up entirely white members who are male. This is a group of people who believe that they are the dominant race and that they should be separated from the others. If all this is true how can this group possibly considered being without racism.