2021/04/13 by Christopher A. Cooper, Scott H. Huffmon, H. Gibbs Knotts +1 · 1 citation
Psychology · Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration #Rhetoric and Communication Studies #Social and Cultural Dynamics
paper · doi:10.1111/ssqu.12969
Objective This study evaluates factors that might explain southerners’ opinions toward Confederate monuments. Method We conduct a series of multivariate analyses of opinions toward Confederate monuments based on a poll of 789 respondents who live in the American South. Results The majority of southerners surveyed want to leave Confederate monuments where they are, place a marker next to them for historical context, or place them in a museum. Southerners who express high levels of racial resentment are more likely to want to leave monuments where they are, without additional context. Southern identity has no effect on opinions toward Confederate monuments. Conclusions Southerners are divided in their opinion on symbols of the Confederacy. Racial resentment explains much more of opinions on Confederate monuments than southern identity, suggesting that “hate” rather than “heritage” is the primary driver of opinions on these symbols of the South's Confederate legacy.