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An Open Letter & Open Report / Special Black History Month Series –
Carolina Day School – Asheville, NC
February 14, 2020
Special Black History Month Series – Carolina Day School – Asheville, NC
Dear Ms. Lunelle,
On February 13, 2020, don in the uniform of the Southern soldier, covered over by a green poncho for protection against the steady rainfall, I would post the Southern Cross in the public easement at the entrance of the prestigious private school, “Carolina Day,” in the Town of Biltmore Forest.
The steady downpour of rain was soon oblivious to me as the constant blaring of car horns, the many times that I would hear, “Thanks, HK,” “God bless you, HK,” was so uplifting to my spirits, as I suppose it was to those who put on a display of love to me.
The first to come was two of Biltmore Forest finest, one of whom had gone to high school with one of my babies that I had called both he and his brother’s son. Both officers with outstretched hands greeted me so warmly.
“Mr. Edgerton,” one of the officers said, pointing at the school. “you know they called us. And, we just told them that as long as you stay on this side of the street, standing in the public easement as you are, you have the protection of the First Amendment, and ours for your safety in our jurisdiction. Have a bless day, and call us if you need to.”
The next to come was Jamey, a young white man from Seattle, Washington. He said that he had read about me, saw some videos on You Tube, and had recently watched my brother Terry Lee’s documentary of the Historic March Across Dixie that went a long way to explaining why a man of the Southern African race would stand up for Dixie.
He went on to say that those who had used my flag for hate bothers him. Hate is a funny kind of thing, I told him. Let us just imagine in 1865, late April. Beamy, a black Union soldier headed home to Demopolis, Alabama, with that Yankee uniform on, going right past Jethro Smith’s house; only the remnants of the porch stands.
Jethro told by some of the servants still there how his wife, two baby girls and his mama, and all the servant girls, were gangraped by the Union soldiers till not one was left. And, that was old granny who could barely walk.
He wasn’t happy to see Beamy, who was just heading home, who himself was happy. For, he remembered how Yankees in that same blue uniform stole from him, forced to dig ditches and most of the hard physical chores while the blue bellied Yankees sat on their backsides and watched. And, not to forget, how they used most of the married Africans wives as concubine.
All that Jethro saw was that Yankee Blue. So, he shot and killed Beamy, and later cried because Beamy was his mammy’s son, and his childhood best friend.
I would go from the criminal aspects of the Morrill Tariff that Lincoln campaigned in support of that pushed the South into Secession, the first 13th Amendment, the Declaration of Independence and Secession – things that slaves and, now, their ancestors didn’t and don’t understand that severed the compact made for a Republic.
This was something that, if those Africans were ever going to be free, they would need to know and understand. For it is that knowledge that led the South to say that they had enough and chose the Constitutional path to go their own way.
Jamey told me that just the day before that, on Facebook, he had read some bad comments about me, but overall many good ones. I told him, “whatever will be, will be.” After about another hour, I would make my way home. It had been an interesting day in Dixie supporting Black History Month for those of the Southern soil who can no longer speak for themselves. God bless you!
Your brother,
HK
Chairman, Board of Advisors Emeritus, Southern Legal Resource Center
Member, Save Southern Heritage Florida
Honorary Life Member, Judah P. Benjamin Camp 2210, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Recipient, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis Medal
Loyal Son Of the South
Honorary Scot of Austin
Kentucky Colonel
Honorary Life Member, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose
President, Southern Heritage 411
