Carter Johnson

October 23, 2017

SER Chart #1

Summary
The article written by The New York Times
writers Jess Bidgood, Matthew Bloch,
Morrigan McCarthy, Liam Stack and
Wilson Andrews offers information on
why and how confederate statues and
monuments are being removed from across
the country. One of the main reasons for the
nationwide renewed attention of the
monuments, according to the article, are the events on August 12, 2017 where thousands of
protesters took to the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia for a white supremacist rally, protesting
the removal of a Robert E Lee statue. The article includes sub-articles of different cities and their
process of removing the statues. Some of the cities included are Baltimore, Austin, Brooklyn, New
Orleans and many more.

Evaluation
The New York Times article offers information on what cities are taking down or have proposed
to take down their statues and monuments and then gives a little insight on why they are being
removed. The article gives more information to the reader rather than give an opinion of a stance
the writers have which is a good way of getting information out. The writers didnt write the
article to try and persuade the reader to take their side which allows both sides, left or right, to
read and follow along.

Reflection
One of the main reasons for removing the statues that stood out in the article was that most of the
statues were removed because of public safety concerns. I believe that public safety is a very big
topic in modern society with all the protests going on all over the US. I believe cities are trying
to take the easy way out and remove the monuments rather than try to solve it in by making the
public a better place to live. I do not believe it is the statues that are the reason that public safety
is now an issue, I believe that it is which side of politics you fall on. The statues are used as
leverage for the left in their argument against racism so cities try to eliminate things people think
are racist to avoid controversy.

Citation
Jess Bidgood, Matthew Bloch, Morrigan Mccarthy, Liam Stack And Wilson Andrews. (2017,
August 16). Confederate Monuments are Coming Down Across the United States. Heres
A List. The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2017, from
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/16/us/confederate-monuments
removed.html
 Carter Johnson
October 23, 2017

SER Chart #2

Summary
The Vox article written by German Lopez
evaluates both sides of Politics by addressing the
controversy of the removal of confederate
monuments and statues. Lopez talks about how
the events in Charlottesville, Virginia on August
12th and how they show how white people are
showing a whitelash according to
commentators. With the increase for racial justice
we now see the so called whitelash come into
action. The term is used to describe how white men and women feel that the rise in civil rights
can leave white people behind and in the dust. According to Lopez, the election of our president,
Donald J Trump, gave a voice to white Americans. Lopez also states that the confederacy was a
bastion of white supremacy and slavery. The civil war is considered by many to be a fight for
the continuation of slavery which is why the confederate monuments are a heated topic today.

Evaluation
The Vox article written by German Lopez was very informative on the topics of confederacy and
white supremacy. This article has engaged me even more of the topic why confederate statues
are being removed in many cities. Lopez did a good job of using both sides of the argument to
make his claim. He addresses his counter argument and explains how he can see why they can
have that feeling.

Reflection
Overall, I believe that everything that German Lopez said was true. I can see why people see the
confederate flag and confederate statues as a racist symbol but I believe more that white
Americans are being stripped of rights and how one wrong phrase can make you a racist if taken
in the wrong context. White Americans must concentrate more on things they do to amend the
wrongs of their ancestors from the civil war. The arguments made by Lopez has interested me
more in the topic of Confederate monuments.

Citation
Lopez, German. (2017, August 16). The Battle Over Confederate Statues, Explained. Vox.
Retrieved
October 15, 2017, from https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/16/16151252/confederate
-statues-white-supremacists
 Carter Johnson
October 23, 2017

SER Chart #3

Summary
Phil Hands Political Cartoon involving the
mayor of Madison, Wisconsin Paul Soglin,
shows just how the fight against confederate
monuments is playing out. Soglin, who has
been the mayor of Madison for decades, has
decided to remove confederate monuments
because There should be no place in our
country for bigotry, hatred or violence against
those who seek to unite our communities and
our country. Hands, creator of the cartoon,
has made clear that Soglin is only doing this
now that it could be politically advantageous in his campaign to remain the mayor.

Evaluation
The political cartoon is very convincing and useful in the sense that why are confederate
monuments now an issue today where as they werent an issue in past years. The source is
credible because it was put into the Wisconsin State Journal. The creators main claims that the
only reason that confederate statues and monuments are being removed is for a political
advantage puts a new light on the debate. Are the confederate monuments really a symbol of
racism and white supremacy or are politicians doing anything in their power to win an election?

Reflection
I believe that Phil Hands did a great job of putting a new perspective on the debate of
confederate monuments. This cartoon would be perfect to show in classroom to spark up a
debate. It shows one side of the argument and can allow people to agree or disagree with it. I
believe that Hands is right in his argument that they are for political advantage rather than an
actual racist symbol. The problem of confederate monuments started in 2015 after a man took
fire to Charleston Church but didnt spark the rage it does today. I believe that when Obama was
president, the left-side were happy but after the election of Trump they are now enraged that a
different political party is now in power.

Citation
Hands, Phil. (2017, August 22). Hands on Wisconsin: Paul Soglin Removing Confederate
Monuments. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2017 from
http://host.madison.com/wsj/opinion/cartoon/hands-on-wisconsin-paul-soglin-calls-for-
removing-confederate- monuments/article_6b45b6cc-7c98-53b0-9d11-
ce2c7f91fb9b.html
 Carter Johnson
October 23, 2017

SER Chart #4
Summary
In the CNN article written by Phil Gast, he
talks about America and how its past is now
catching up with its present. He takes about
what the confederacy meant in the 19th century
versus what it means today as well as give
insight on why monuments went up and where
the US goes from here. He talks about how
historians say that the main two reasons for
Southern States secession from the United states were slavery and states rights. In the article, he states
that in the late 19th and early 20th century, groups put up statues to promote the Lost Cause ideology.
Gast finishes up his article with a section on what America should do next where he talks about how
talking about civil war monuments 150 years later is actually a good thing. He states, It is healthy to
debate how the republic should function, how a government is administered by the consent of the
governed.

Evaluation
Gast does a good job in explaining all parts of the debate. By talking about what confederacy
means in the 19th century versus now allows people to see why the debate is even happening. He
didnt write this article to try and convince people that his stance is right. He wrote the article to
inform people of things happening today and how it Americans can make it better in the future.

Reflection
This article does a good job of allowing both sides of the debate to have a voice. I would use this
article in a classroom setting because it shows people that modern history and past history can
change the meaning of a word. The word Confederacy is a prime example of how this can
happen. In the 19th century it meant the Souths fight for state rights where as today a lot of
people see it as a racist symbol because of how its used. The Klu Klux Klan is a prime example
of how it can be used in a bad way

Citation
Gast, Phil. (2017, September 27). Americas complicated history with its Confederate Past. CNN
Retrieved October 16, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/us/confederacy-
explainer-trnd/index.html

To view video on topic, click here

 Carter Johnson
October 23, 2017

SER Chart #5

Summary
The political cartoon created by Kirk Walters
focuses on what American society is doing
today. The cartoon has a person with a shirt
that states resist and a child who is wearing a
backpack like he is going to school. The
humor behind this comic is to show how
people who are fighting for the removal of
confederate statues arent actually doing
anything meaningful, as stated by the child.
This shows that there are other problems that
the US could focus on rather than remove statues that have stood for decades. Walters focuses
his disapproval of people fighting for the erasing of the statues.

Evaluation
The cartoon is a way to show that there are better things to focus on than if a monument for over
a hundred years ago is offensive to some people. Walters uses this comic to show what he thinks
of the protests for the statues as well as what he thinks people should be focusing on. This offers
a chance for people to think on what is actually important in todays society. Is fighting for
something that may be offensive to you more important on equal education for all? This cartoon
gets people to think more so than act.

Reflection
I believe this cartoon is a good example of what should be happening in todays society. In
todays society, you have to worry about things you say because if it is offensive or taken out of
context then you can get into serious trouble and possibly even sued. IF people focused more on
things like equal education and even problems in other countries. I believe that if people united
and worked together on problem, this country would be the best country on the planet.
Citation
Walter, Kirk. (2017, August 16) Kirk: Confederate statues. The Blade. Retrieved
October 17, 2017 from http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorial-Cartoons/2017/08/17/Kirk-
Confederate-statues-an-editorial-cartoon-by-Kirk-Walters.html
 Carter Johnson
October 23, 2017

SER Chart #6

Summary
In the video from History.com, they talk about when confederate monuments first started to go up. The
video states that from the years 1865-1900 most statues went up to honor the fallen soldiers of the
confederacy. But during the Jim Crow era the monuments took a different turn and started to recognize
the confederate leaders. During the civil rights movement, the amount of monuments and statues
increased greatly. Then the video talks about how many monuments are in Virginia, Texas, Georgia,
North Carolina, and Mississippi. The total number is 845 monuments across the five states. It also states a
quote from Robert E Lee that states I think its wiser not to keep open the sores of the war but to follow
the examples of those nations who endeavored to obliterate the marks of civil strife to commit to the
oblivion the feelings engendered.

Evaluation
The source does a good job of showing just how many monuments are across the United States.
It gives the audience a way to see just when the monuments came into action. After the war,
some monuments were put up but the majority of them came during the civil rights movement in
the wake of protests. This video gives a good description of the monuments and give a primary
source of a quote from Robert E Lee.

Reflection
I believe that the video would be good to show this video during a class. It would allow people to
get a feel just how many statues are in the united states. I agree with the fact that the monuments
are there to remember the fallen soldiers because the families of the fallen must go through a
grieving period also. The statues are there to remember the fighters from history.

Citation
History.com Staff (Writer). (2009). The History of Confederate Monuments in the U.S. [Video
File]. History.com Retrieved October 17, 2017, from
http://www.history.com/topics/american-ci vil-war/confederate-states-of-america