CNN's Chris Cuomo zeroed in on five state flags that have supposed "strong Confederate references" on Monday's New Day. Cuomo cited unnamed experts on flags and symbols who claim that the state flags of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee – along with that of Mississippi and Georgia (which incorporate two different Confederate flags) – have such "references." He later wondered, "Do all of these flags have to go? Does each deserve separate consideration? Is there a 'too far' involved with something like this?" [video below]
The anchor brought on Bakari Sellers to discuss the ongoing controversy about the Confederate flag that flies on the grounds of South Carolina's state capitol. Cuomo introduced Sellers as a "CNN contributor" and "former South Carolina state representative," but failed to mention that he is a Democrat. Near the end of the segment, the CNN journalist brought up the issue of the state flags:
CHRIS CUOMO: ...I am introduced to a new word now that I'll give to you – you probably know it – and to the audience: 'vexillology,' which is the study of symbols and flags, and how they're used. And people look at this, Bakari – and there are other flags. There's Alabama, which has the Confederate – what seems to be the Confederate cross on it. There's Arkansas, which, according to the vexillologists – says that they have strong Confederate references. Here they are – there's five of them up on your screen. You also have Georgia that went through a transition like this. You have Tennessee. You have Florida, which is the flag in the top right there.
Where do you go with this? Do all of these flags have to go? Does each deserve separate consideration? Is there a 'too far' involved with something like this?
Sellers replied, in part, that "each [flag] deserves its own separate consideration. I don't think there's any doubt about what the flag in South Carolina stood for. I don't think there's any doubt about what the flag in Mississippi stands for." He later added that "it's worthy consideration in each and every state where these divisive symbols fly above capitols and state domes."
While Mississippi's flag clearly has the Confederate battle flag on it, and Georgia's flag is based on the Confederacy's first national flag (the actual "Stars and Bars"), the argument that the state flags of the other four states have supposed "Confederate references" in them is much more debatable. Florida and Alabama's flags have the same basic design – white with a red saltire, or St. Andrew's Cross. However, territory in both states were once ruled by Spain, which once flew a similar white and red flag.
Cuomo could have gotten his points about vexillology from a Sunday article on Washington Post's Wonkblog by Christopher Ingraham. The writer underlined that "it's easy to forget that Confederate symbolism still adorns many official state flags in the South." Ingraham included North Carolina's flag with that of the six other Southern states mentioned by the CNN anchor.
Earlier in the segment, Cuomo wondered about the mixed response from blacks regarding the Confederate flag controversy:
CUOMO: When I look at the numbers now – in Mississippi, they had a referendum in 2001, 2003 – something like that. Georgia, the poll in South Carolina – you do not see clear evidence of black outrage at the symbol. How do you account for that?
BAKARI SELLERS, FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Well, that actually is true. I think that we have three groups of people – because I stood with Senator Vincent Sheheen in the campaign for governor and lieutenant governor back about eight months ago – and even Democrats were asking us, 'Why are we taking – why are you asking to take the flag down?'
You have three groups of people: you have the people who despise this flag and everything it stands for; you have people who believe this flag is – flag is heritage, not hate; and then, you have the group of people who really don't care, and are tired of having the discussion. Those people who really don't care and are tired of having the discussion are now on the side of taking the flag down. This has been a very winding, winding, winding road, and I look forward to it permeating even in states other than Mississippi.
