Kanye South?

In preparation for his tour to promote his album, “Yeezus,” Kanye West has decided to use the Confederate flag as his own personal symbol. It will be used on several pieces of promotional material throughout the tour.

Several columnists and bloggers have considered the statement and have come to varying conclusions. The conversation has focused on West’s choice in using a flag often considered a symbol of hate and oppression.

When asked, West’s comment was simple. He said “It’s my flag now. Now what you gonna do?” The statement, though, may be too simple.

An idea that has gained quite a bit of traction is the notion that West is attempting to rebrand the Confederate flag. By making it a symbol for a black performer’s career, it would carry on an all new meaning, revolutionizing the way people respond to and interact with the image.

One of the issues with this is that West has failed to manipulate the media and his message in a way that would allow this revision to succeed. There isn’t even any real evidence that this is what West was trying to accomplish.

Columnists and bloggers have, perhaps wrongly, assumed that West was making a grandiose statement, an audacious campaign to break away from hateful racism.

Realistically, though, it is just as likely that West is just trying to piss people off and to spark a debate.

For the purpose of argument, though, let’s assume West intends to shift the Confederate flag’s meaning for social reformation. If that is the case, West is destroying an important part of American history — one that needs to continue to be a symbol for future generations.

The Confederate flag is a symbol of oppression and hate. It was used as an image by those who wished to maintain their hold as owners of other human beings. This image sends an unpleasant and uncomfortable message, which is exactly why it should continue to represent what it does.

It is incredibly easy to make a positive symbol into a negative one. Just look at the swastika. Originally, a swastika was a symbol of peace in many near-Eastern religions and cultures. It was only after being adopted by Nazi Germany that it developed its negative connotation.

On the other hand, it is much harder to make a negative symbol into a positive one. It seems close to impossible to make the swastika an image of peace ever again. A similar thing can be said of the Confederate flag.

If West is successful in revamping the symbolism of the flag, children growing up listening to his music will not be able to understand the origins and meaning of “his” symbol.

The historical significance will be replaced by pop culture shock-and-awe.

Americans should not try to forget about racism, to sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen. Instead, we need to be reminded — to learn from the ideologies of the past and to reshape the way we think for the future.

So no, Kanye, you can’t have the flag. It holds so much more historical significance than your concert tour.

­— azoot@indiana.edu
Follow columnist Austin Zoot on Twitter @austinzoot12.