Twitter has been on fire lately with controversy over students wearing and flying the Confederate flag at school. Supporters of the flag claim it is a symbol of their heritage and Southern pride. Those who oppose the flag say it is a symbol of hate and oppression.

The Confederate flag was a battle flag used by the South in the Civil War.  For those of you who didn’t pay attention in history class, let me fill you in. The South was, in essence, fighting for their right to own slaves. After the importation of slaves was outlawed in 1807, selling and trading slaves as an internal market gained significant importance to the economy of the South. This, of course, really angered the North, and after a while the country was divided against itself and engaging in war. Now, 150 years after the Civil War ended, some deny that the Confederate flag is a symbol of racism, instead being symbolic of the owner’s Southern heritage.”

The Confederate flag as we know it was created by William T. Thompson in 1863. Thompson was a supporter of the Confederacy and opposed the liberation of slaves. In his own words, the Confederate flag was created to represent the Confederacy’s fight “to maintain the heaven ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race.” Let’s face it folks. This is a white supremacy flag.

I would think that people with “Southern heritage” would be disappointed in their ancestors for supporting slavery and waving around a symbol of white supremacy, but instead, it’s raised everywhere. One student wore it around the halls. Let me rephrase that. This kid wore a flag created to represent “supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race,” and didn’t get dress coded. If one were to wear a banner with a giant swastika on it, there’s no doubt he’d get in trouble. Both are symbols of injustice and hate, so why is one considered to be OK?

Allen’s dress code states that clothing featuring inappropriate or crude content isn’t allowed. Beer brands, tobacco, and sexually explicit images are all banned, but a historical image of prejudice and systematic racism isn’t?

The Confederate flag should not be romanticized. Its message of pride and rebellion is tainted with a background of injustice and inequality. In the end, the Confederate flag stands for hate, not heritage, and should be treated as such.