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An Open Letter & Open Report / Asheville High School
February 13, 2020
Asheville High School
Dear Ms. Lunelle,
On Wednesday, February 12, 2020, don in the uniform of the Southern soldier, and armed with my Black History Board, I would post the Southern Cross in the public easement at the entrance to Asheville High School in the City of Asheville, North Carolina, around 6:30 AM.
The first to come to where I stood was the new principal. “You must be Mr. Edgerton,” he exclaimed. “Yes, sir,” would be my reply. “I am here once again because its Black History Month, and I do not believe that the Black Confederate soldier, nor his family who loyally served the Confederacy and its Southern white family before, during and after the War For Southern Independence will be mentioned, let alone taught in your school the whole of this month.”
He wanted me to move approximately 6″ off the metal enclosure that I was standing on to the sidewalk because the enclosure was on the grass, and that was school property. I told him that every year for the past twenty, the police would come and inform, just like I did now …… that I was standing in the public easement, expressing my First Amendment right, and did not have to move. He said that he would take my word, but for me not to come on the grass behind me.
The next to come was a middle age black man who said that he knew who I was, and that he had been watching and studying me for years. The only problem he had with me was that he had never seen me carrying an African flag. I told him that I was puzzled. Africans don’t really care for American blacks. And, maybe its because it is they who owe up reparations to them. He said, “HK, you are just a Confederate!” He threw up his hands and told me to have a blessed day. I told him to read Mike Scruggs Un-Civil War book.
And then came three young black girls, four young black boys, one white girl and the Chinese boy who had already been taking up the role as spokesman. He asked of me why I had come to their school dressed in the garb of those who suppressed my people? I told him to go home and ask his daddy why did the Yang brothers join up with the Confederate armed services to fight a man that had suppressed his family?
One of the black girls asked me if I had dressed the way I did was because I wanted to be seen? “You are absolutely correct,” I told her. “Like Rev. Mack Lee, Napoleon Nelson, Levi Carnine, Horace King, or a host of other black Confederate soldiers. A great honor for me, and one you should at least learn of during Black History Month.”
The next to come was a black police officer, Jones, to join with the other officer who remained behind after the students were summoned back to the school. “HK,” he shouted with a big grin on his face and a bearhug for me from his huge frame. I knew it was going to cost me!
“HK, would you do me a big favor and go across the street?” “No sir,” was my quick response. “I don’t have to.” “HK, your presence has created a disturbance up there,” he said pointing back to the school. “All the kids want to talk about is you. Why are you here?” “Good,” I said. “HK, please for me, would you just go across the street?”
I told him that he was hurting me. But, because of the way he asked, and who he was, I had no other choice. However, to tell the principal and the man standing next to him who insisted that I move those six inches, I am only going across the street because you asked me, and not because I had to.
As I stood on the other side of the road, Officer Jones and his partner would pull up in their patrol cars and asked if I would like a cup of coffee, a water, or whatever? I would say thanks, but no. It was almost time to go. God bless you!
Your brother,
HK
Chairman, Board of Advisors Emeritus, Southern Legal Resource Center
Member, Save Southern Heritage Florida
Honorary Life Member, Bradford Rose Camp 1638, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Life Member, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose
Honorary Life Member, Zebulon Vance Camp 15, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Life Member, Jackson Rangers Camp 1917, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Honorary Life Member, Augusta Jane Evans Chapter 2640, United Daughters of the Confederacy
President, Southern Heritage 411
