story name: Remarks on Confederate Insignia
Why does Moseley-Braun refer to a speech made by the vice president of the Confederate States of America in 1861? According to this vice president, on what “cornerstone” does the government of the Confederacy rest? Cite evidence from the text to support your response.
Moseley-Braun refers to the speech made by the vice president of the Confederate States of America in 1861 because she is making a point about the true intentions and beliefs behind the Confederate flag and other insignia. In the speech, the vice president of the Confederacy stated that the government of the Confederacy rested upon the "great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery — subordination to the superior race — is his natural and normal condition." This quote from the speech explicitly states that the government of the Confederacy was founded on the belief in white supremacy and the institution of slavery.
By referencing this speech, Moseley-Braun is highlighting the problematic and racist origins of Confederate symbols and insignia. She is arguing that these symbols do not represent heritage or history, but rather represent a dark and oppressive ideology that should not be celebrated or glorified. This reinforces her stance on the removal of Confederate insignia from public spaces.
Overall, Moseley-Braun is using historical evidence to support her argument that Confederate symbols are not simply harmless artifacts of the past, but rather represent a deep-seated racism and inequality that should not be promoted or celebrated in modern society.