After the 1960's

In the second half of the 20th century, a so-called flag war broke out. Confederate heritage groups were fighting against the negative publicity of the banner, saying that it should only be displayed to express one’s respect to the soldiers who once fought and died under it. However, the flag could not escape stigmatization; moreover, after the CRM, the flag continued to be the symbol of racism, hatred. There are many cases documented in the 1990’s which are about unfortunate shootings and killings generated by the presence of the Confederate flag on a car, on clothes, etc.

In pop culture, the flag became more often used in logos but this differed from the flag fa din the 1950’s. Sports events, vehicles, scout uniforms used the flag in various forms. Due to the anti-flag policies, these illustrations were banned. For example, “In 1993, NASCAR barred a car sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans bearing the organization’s battle flag logo. A year later, Harley-Davison, makers of the popular American motorcycle, forbade the use of logos and the sale of products bearing the Confederate flag; the Milwaukee-based company acted after receiving a protest from a local civil rights activist…Within months, Harley-Davidson reversed its decision, and declared that local motorcycle dealers could decide for themselves whether or not to incorporate the Confederate flag in their logos”. 176

“Confederate heritage groups in recent years have pursued a logical two-track approach to defending the flag: persuade the media not to give coverage to the misuse of the flag by the KKK and other extremists while simultaneously offering models of proper, reverent flag use. Theoretically, it may be possible to teach a critical mass of Americans by word and example to believe that the Confederate flag is a positive or at least a benign historical icon. But as long as hate groups and ordinary people use the flag as a racist or politically charged symbol, and as long as the flag maintains its status as a signal of countercultural rebellion and militant individualism, the education campaign will fail to overcome stiff resistance to the Confederate flag.”177