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| | From:  Confedup® (Original Message) | Sent: 8/31/2006 10:41 AM |
Today August 30, 2006, I would adorn my Confederate uniform and travel once again across the mountains to Johnson City, Tennessee where upon arriving, I would park in the parking lot of my favorite restaurant on Roan Street; Dixie Barbecue, and then proceed the some ten miles up Roan heading to East Tennessee State University. As I near the location of the Ramada Inn, a car would pull into one of their spaces near the street, and the driver would beckon to me. He asked why on this day would I be marching up Roan carrying the Confederate Naval Jack ? I told him that I was on my way to register a formal complaint with Dr.Colin Baxter, the History Department Chair, against Professor Andrew Slap; who had publicly humiliated a young Black man in his history class when the young man was prompted to answer what the Confederate Battle Flag meant to him. The gentleman identified himself as Philip, and said that he was a community activist, and had on many occasions spoke to the students at the university, and was very sympathetic to my plight. He insisted on writing his telephone numbers down on a piece of paper, and exclaimed that if I had any problems and needed the communities help, he would be forth coming with it. Little did he know, that while he was making this proclamation, a young white lady had existed the Ramada, and promptly informed us that her boss had sent her forth to tell us in no uncertain terms to get from in front of the hotel . I tried to explain to her that the young man had only asked for my reason for walking by, and that I really had no intentions of being there but a second, and that the side walk was a public easement from which I had a great deal of latitude to express my first amendment rights. She replied that she didn't want to hear that, and if I did not leave, she would call the police, and I better git. Well, the gentleman promptly pulled off, but it don't set well with me to be told to get, especially carrying my flag, and I told her that while I had not intended on being there, now I wasn't going any place, and if she was going to call the police, I was going to be there when they arrived, or whenever I decided to leave. After standing there some forty minutes waving and taking pictures from the passer by's, two Johnson City sheriff deputies would arrive and began questioning me, and as previously stated I told them what had happened. Just as I was finishing my dissertation several Johnson City police cars would come up, and from one of them would exist one Officer J.W. Honeycutt,a mighty fine police officer that I had come to know and love. Officer Honeycutt called out my name and greeted me with so much honor that the sheriff deputy completed stepped to the side, and I could see his whole demeanor completely change . I again told the men that I really had no intentions of being in front of the hotel, but I wasn't going to be told to get, and I just really wanted to continue on to the University. They informed me that they were going in the hotel and speak to the young lady, so I proceeded on towards the school. God bless these men, especially Officer Honeycutt. As I came upon 12th and North Roan, I would encounter a young Black boy apparently late for school, and he would ask me , what was I doing with that flag ? I told him that I was carrying it for him, and to trust me with that charge, and he replied, I trust you. I now began to strut. As I headed down W.Walnut, now only several blocks from the school, I would come upon a Black man and woman sitting on a porch; the man would jump straight up and pop a magnificent salute towards me; the lady looked somewhat pleasantly surprised at this show of affection. I continued on to the campus and went straight to Dr. Baxter's office , whereupon his Secretary would inform me that he would not be in until 11:30 am; it was now about 9:15 am. I left my name once more and told her why I had come, and promised that I would return at the stated hour. I promptly stepped outside to the front of the history building and began answering the many questions of the students faculty and staff who in numbers who approach me on this day. Several minutes later, Dr. Baxter's Secretary would come out to inform me that the Doctor would not return until 1:30 PM. Not to be deterred, I continued taking pictures and relishing in the tremendous ovation that I was now receiving from the many who stopped to convalesce. I am so very proud of all the students, staff, and community people, both Black and White, who on this day would present me with nothing but love and understanding. No matter that once again, I would not get to see Dr.Baxter, for Commander Jim Maddox would come to take me from this place back to Dixie Barbecue, where I would feast upon a meal fit for a King, and plan my strategy for tomorrow; for I would surely come again until I would see Dr. Baxter and ask for a written apology for not only Mr..T.K.Owens, but all the Sons and Daughters on the Confederacy, especially those who like T.K.'s great grand pa just happened to be Black. I shall always be eternally grateful to the University of East Tennessee for granting me so much latitude in expressing my free speech. Never once has any member of it's staff, students, or parents treated me with anything but dignity as I prowled there campus strutting with the Christian Cross of St. Andrew; my "Confederate Battle Flag." |
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Today August 31, 2006 because of the tremendous rain that was falling, I stood at the window contemplating on whether to once again cross the mountains into Johnson City, Tennessee. My sister like her mother must have been reading my mind. She gave me a tremendous tongue lashing about how I was always bragging about how my stock ran up while I was out marching with my Confederate Flag when the weather was bad. You've got your uniform on, now get out of here and run your stock up she said. When I arrived in Johnson City, the rain was now falling harder. I did not hesitate; up Roan Street I would head to a grand ovation from most who passed by. Pretty well soaked, I arrived on the campus of East Tennessee State at approximately 10:15 A.M.. I headed straight to Dr. Collin Baxter's office for the fourth time ; expecting once again to hear the nice lady tell me that he was not in. However, this time she instructed me to go on back to his office. We introduced ourselves, and I told Dr. Baxter that my brother and dear friend the Tennessee Brigade Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Jim Maddox had nothing but praise for him, but that I had come on an extremely unpleasant mission. He informed me that he too felt that not only was Commander Maddox an honorable man , but also one who was very knowledgeable. I explained to him that Professor Andrew Slap had humiliated and placed great shame on one of his students, T.K. Owens. Professor Slap had asked of T.K. as he had other students to describe what the Confederate flag meant to them. Swelling with pride and the knowledge that his grand pa had so honorably served with distinction in the ranks of the Confederate Army, T.K. would embark on relaying this fact to Mr..Slap and the members of his class, only to be told by Professor slap to take his seat, and that T.K.'s family history was totally wrong, for there was no such thing as a Black Confederate Soldier. Never mind that T.K.'s family had just recently been honored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans at a Memorial Service honoring his grand pa . He would indicate that the only reason for the Sons actions was to uplift there negative image in the community. To see the scowl on Doctor Baxter's face spoke volumes of what he would now say to me. " Mr.. Edgerton he began; on behalf of this University and this History Department that I Chair ; I am appalled by the actions of Professor Slap, and I offer our most heartfelt apology to Mr.. Owens , his family and to all the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy, be they Red, Black or White. He went on to say that this would never again happen while he held the Chair, and that the Provost , Doctor Bauch did not take it lightly, or would not, to have any of his students embarrassed in this manner. I thanked this good man that sat before me profusely, and left his office with a sense of tremendous relief. Commander Maddox would come again around noon to fetch me, and once again find me surrounded by my babies as I held court outside the History Department speaking of the love that Southern White and Black folk have shared for each other that has carried them through some of the most turbulent times in our American History , as those who do not like , or understand us have done any and everything to keep us apart. May God bless Doctor Baxter, East Tennessee State University, Commander Jim Maddox and the Tennessee Sons of Confederate Veterans , and may Butler Owens, a Black Confederate Soldier now rest in peace. HK Edgerton |
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