Amid the killing of nine innocent churchgoers in Charleston, S.C. by Dylann Roof (Jun. 17), the Confederate flag became a topic of national discussion. Following the heinous murders, photos of the 21-year-old with the flag circulated online, igniting the masses to call for its removal from the South Carolina statehouse. As activists pointed to the Confederate flag as a symbol of hate, a number of Southerners continued to defend it.
Just over two months after the Charleston shooting, rapper Yelawolf is among those who call the Confederate flag a badge of honor. In a lengthy (and seemingly out-of-nowhere) Instagram post, the Shady Records MC blamed the flag’s bad rap on “media succubus in fashion and news” who are “giving a false impression of who we are in the South.” Stamping it as a symbol for “Dixie” culture, he went on to name his “black inspirations” from the South who have donned the flag, including Andre 3000 and Big Gipp:
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Ain’t no way I’m letting some ones ignorance tear me from my roots .. you fucking fuck boys can save it with this anti Dixie SHIT !! .. You media succubus in fashion and news are taking full advantage of yourself’s business .. Not knowing at all the damage you’re creating by giving a false impression of who we are in the South .. We’re GOOD PEOPLE !!! .. We love our small towns and we love our folks .. For me and me only I’ll tell you like this … Rip DIME BAG DARRELL !! and Long live PANTERA !! .. Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd !!… Long Live Dukes of Hazard . .And mother FUCKER … The DIXIE WILL NEVER DIE !! … Do you want Me to mention my black inspirations on the Dixie side .. like Big Gipp who I saw in a full Dixie Flag outfit at Madison Square Garden in 05 ? , or Andre 3000 rocking a Dixie Flag Belt buckle in ” Sorry ms Jackson ? ” , maybe little Jhon or Pastor Troy who rocked the Dixie Flag in a protest against ignorance ? … I saw the GROWTH and the POWER !! NOT THE DEMISE !!! And here we have these fucking yuppies from the west coast and world wide jumping on this band wagon .. Who know NOTHING ABOUT US .. Other than the movies and misrepresented news reels they see .. Lied too at school and at home .. Further deepening the injury of social perception .. With this wack ass image of a burning Dixie Flag …. Fuck that !! … Well I can tell you that a #slumerican will never support you .. We’re beyond you all .. More open and way more prepared than you are DIXIE !!! @savetheconfederateflag #slumerican
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Furthering his argument, Yelawolf used a quote by Andre 300 in the Sept. 2001 issue of VIBE, in which the Outkast member explained why he donned the Confederate flag. Noting it as an act of rebellion, Three Stacks separated the associations of racist symbolism.
“I wear the belt for southern pride and to rebel, I don’t take the confederate flag that serious as far as the racial part is concerned,” Andre 3000 said.
Peep Yelawolf’s Instagram posts on the Confederate flag below: