Commentary: Confederate holiday fuels oppression
Marci McPhee, For the Express-News
Feb. 2, 2021
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Imagine this discussion:
Adult: “It honors the Civil War leaders who fought to keep Black people slaves.”
Huh? How does that sound to a Black child? What message does it send to a white child?
Honoring the Confederacy is an ongoing outrage to fellow Texans and an incitement to violence, from small insults to deadly force. Continuing to celebrate this holiday perpetuates the culture of oppression of fellow Texans. This issue is back before the Texas Legislature this session.
“These images and words (honoring the Confederacy) give some people the courage and even the audacity to do what they do to people of color, because it emboldens them,” state Rep. Jarvis Johnson of Houston, who in 2019 authored a bill to remove this holiday, told Texas Monthy in July.
State lawmaker from Houston files bill to end Confederate Heroes Day in Texas
The Texas Legislature passed the measure in 1973, more than 100 years after the end of the Civil War. Author: Adam Bennett Updated: 6:05 PM CST January 19, 2021
HOUSTON Some state lawmakers are hoping to end Confederate Heroes Day, a holiday that gives some state employees a paid day off.
State Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, filed House Bill 36 to get rid of Confederate Heroes Day. His previous attempt in the 2019 session never made it to a vote.
“This is a part of our past that should be relegated to the history books and not celebrated,” said Rep. Johnson, during a virtual press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Bills filed to abolish Confederate Heroes Day as Texas holiday
Confederate Heroes Day has been on the books since 1973. Several Democratic legislators said Tuesday they hope 2021 will be the year it ends. Author: David Lippman (KYTX) Updated: 11:01 PM CST January 19, 2021
TYLER, Texas Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Wednesday is Inauguration Day. Sandwiched in between, Texas celebrated a different chapter of American history Tuesday.
January 19 is designated as Confederate Heroes Day by the State of Texas and state workers are allowed to take a paid day off from work. As a new legislative session begins, several Democratic lawmakers called for the elimination of the holiday.
TYLER, Texas — Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Wednesday is Inauguration Day. Sandwiched in between, Texas celebrated a different chapter of American history Tuesday.
Lawmakers in Texas Hoping to Dump Confederate Heroes Day
This isn t the first time that Texas lawmakers have tried to eliminate Confederate Heroes Day . They ve been trying to get it done for several years. Confederate Heroes Day has been a state holiday since 1973. Lawmakers at the time decided to combine two holidays celebrating the two Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. January 19 was chosen because it was Robert E. Lee s birthday.
According to a report from KXXV Channel 25, Texas lawmakers have introduced two new bills that would eliminate the state holiday.
University of Houston professor, Brandon Rottinghaus says, This has been a controversial holiday since it was created. It’s been a point of contention because there are people on both sides who have strong feelings.”