It’s no secret that there has been much national debate over the waving of the confederate flag in many southern states. However, Mississippi governor Phil Bryant decided to show the world just how Southern they are by declaring April to be “Confederate Heritage Month.”

As the news was unveiled, the governor’s director of communications commented, “Like his predecessors — both Republican and Democrat — who issued similar proclamations, Governor Bryant believes Mississippi’s history deserves study and reflection, no matter how unpleasant or complicated parts of it may be.”

Surely he is just trying to embrace the history of Mississippi. And those “unpleasant or complicated parts” were just his state’s right to secede from a union that wanted to abolish a tiny atrocity called slavery. But hey, all history is a bit complicated right?

Wrong. First and foremost, the governor’s plan for the month and his plan for “Confederate Memorial Day” on the April 25 not once mentions slavery or the actions performed by many confederate members to keep slaves.

Secondly, for some reason there are still people out there that don’t understand the celebration of the confederacy is a direct insult and spits in the face of many people of color whose ancestors were victims of the time.

The governor has a right to do what he wants to do with his state; however, it’s about time that states in this country stop continuing to sugarcoat the devastating history leading up to the civil war and realize that the effects of such history can still be seen today (i.e. Baltimore, Ferguson, etc).

Oh, and if you were waiting for a "just kidding," you’re out of luck. This was actually proposed and approved in the state. God Bless America. 

(Photo: Governor Phil Bryant)