My friend and fellow YouthPrise Board member Antonio Cardona writes about what it means for him to have seen the news that a volunteer firefighter, Brian Nielsen, decided to fly the Confederate Flag along the USA Flag during a town parade July 2015. Nielsen did say he does not see race; that the problem is political correctness.
The blog below is completely written by Antonio Cardona. Here's a snipet: "Growing up, I was in one of only a handful of Mexican families [in Albert Lea, MN] and now love seeing the increasing diversity showing up in my nieces' and nephews' class photos. It is for them that I hope the climate and awareness improves. That can only happen if those who create division are held accountable, people understand real histories, and we have the one on one conversations we need to have."
As someone who was born in Albert Lea, MN, I was disheartened, angry, ashamed and embarrassed to see the stories this weekend of a Confederate flag flying in the 4th of July Parade. One thing I was not was surprised. My experience growing up in Albert Lea tells me this makes a lot of sense.
Many have pointed out that the fire department was from Hartland and not Albert Lea. I imagine the reason for the clarification is so that you can say, "That's not us." However, the online uproar came later in the weekend. Albert Lea residents didn't say anything during the parade and nobody demanded the flag be removed. I have to admit that after a childhood of being taught by others that I do not have any power or don't deserve to be seen as a full person, I have had my own challenges in confronting the racist behavior of others. Whether out of fear or a false sense of respectability politics, it is wrong.
It is possible (though not likely) that Brian Nielen was operating out of the truest sense of the word ignorance. His statements show he didn't think his actions would be controversial, that the flag has nothing to do with racism and that its about history and free speech. One only needs to look at the comments sections of the Star Tribune and Albert Lea Tribune for accurate links to the history of the Confederate flag, so I won't repeat them here. If not operating out of ignorance, then he certainly is operating out of a place of racism and a lack of humanity. It is baffling how someone could think it is appropriate to fly that flag after 9 African-American church members were gunned down just weeks ago by a white supremacist.
It has always been clear to me how things like this and people's uneducated views get a pass, not just in Albert Lea, but everywhere and I certainly cannot excuse myself from my role. This sort of pass is evidenced in Randy Kehr's (Executive Director of the AL Chamber of Commerce) initial reaction. From the Star Tribune, "Kehr chuckled a bit and acknowledged that the Hartland fire truck was “probably not” in compliance. “I think in about two days it will essentially be forgotten,” he said."
That type of nonchalant attitude is why a friend, Theresa Salazar, and I started a group in high school called the United Cultures Organization. Many were tired of the casual jokes. I was tired of physical abuse. Others simply wanted to find community with others who were treated like outsiders. Ultimately, the group didn't have much of an external effect, but it gave us somewhere to just exhale and feel a sense of affinity.
