H.K. Edgerton Addresses Confederate Youth…I Mean, Kids

This video just came across my YouTube feed and it’s a winner.  This one features Edgerton addressing a group of kids at the 8th Annual Confederate Heritage Youth Day in Clover, S.C. this past weekend.  This has got to be one of H.K.’s most incoherent presentations.  At times I can’t tell what he is talking about.  One kid looks horrified and the others just look amused and/or perplexed.

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20 comments… add one
  • Terry Oct 9, 2012 @ 8:13

    Could only listen for a few minutes. My ancestors arrived on these secrete shores just after the Puritan/Pilgrims did. They were the dredge of the British Empire that’s why they ended up here-thank god. Penal colony maybe!! So from every major incident in our countries history my blood was around and I’m extremely proud of that and mostly quite about it too!!! Until now!! Being of proud Yankee decent, this kind of action is worthless acting. I’m behind on these kind of matters and it shows here. My ancestors fought and died in this mistake of a war. But from what I gleam from my ancestors past writings is they fought and died for the “UNION” not for the “darky”(sorry-used only as a 19Th century expression) as they call them. But the people of color still did get their just fair accounts of freedom from getting the UNION back to where it belongs. Not the other way around. We have a black President now to prove that. The UNION was saved first, other situations like this man’s free speech came from this Civil War action not the other way, around in my opinion!!! I look forward to further checking of the site in the future. Thank you its really needed!! God Bless this Union!!!

  • Scott Manning Oct 2, 2012 @ 5:20

    He has an undeniable flair and charm, but he has an uphill battle.

  • James Harrigan Oct 2, 2012 @ 0:43

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it seems pretty clear to me that H.K. Edgerton is mentally ill. I find him more sad than laughable.

    • Kevin Levin Oct 2, 2012 @ 1:54

      H.K.’s presentations have always been more passion than content, but this performance is completely incoherent. You can see it on the kid’s faces. Sad indeed.

    • Andy Hall Oct 2, 2012 @ 5:41

      Remember that Edgerton is conducting business. “His” organization, Southern Heritage 411, is actually owned by Dewey Barber, owner of Dixie Outfitters, and was registered as a for-profit corporation in Georgia until the state dissolved its license for non-payment of registration fees in 2010. Edgerton is the public face of that company, which seems to exist to subtly promote Dixie Outfitters gear, several designs of which feature Edgerton prominently.

      There’s nothing wrong with any of that, except for the fact that Heritage 411 continues to represent itself as a non-profit organization (it’s not), and solicit contributions with the claim that such donations are tax-deductible (they’re not).

    • Bryan Cheeseboro Oct 2, 2012 @ 6:01

      I agree with you, he is a looney tune. But a rich one. Is it really true he charges $20,000 pers speaking fee?

      • Andy Hall Oct 2, 2012 @ 6:46

        That is his stated fee. It’s a ridiculous amount, to the extent that even asking for it undermines his credibility. He really ought to either stick to his guns and demand that, or stop claiming it as if it were a real fee.

        For the record, I don’t believe Edgerton is wealthy, or raking in piles of cash.In fact, I gather he lives modestly. At the same time, though, it’s important to understand that what he does is a business. He is a one-man traveling show, generating enthusiasm among Confederate heritage types, which translates to sales for Dixie Outfitters merchandise.

        None of this is to say that he’s not also a bit unbalanced, but just to point out that there is some complexity to all of this, and several lines of direct, personal interests that all combine to produce Edgerton’s performances like the one above.

        One final point: If you’ve ever wanted a peel-and-stick poster of H. K. Edgerton and black Confederates to hang above your bed, Dixie Outfitters has you covered.

        • Kevin Levin Oct 2, 2012 @ 7:29

          The video also clearly reflects the limits of his ability in front of audiences. He is at his best when doing his Confederate flag schtick in front of an audience of true believers, but he clearly has no idea how to approach kids or to engage in a formal educational lesson.

          • Andy Hall Oct 2, 2012 @ 7:45

            I take it, then, you also disagree with Edgerton’s explanation for the emergence of Jim Crow laws in the South in the decades following the war:

            You talk about Jim Crow, every member of the United States Supreme Court with the exception of one former Southern plantation owner said, “no, we don’t need Jim Crow,” they, those Yankees themselves, they outvoted him and we were forced with Jim Crow. Right here in the Southland of America. And what did white folks do? Like they always did, said “okay, black folks we just got to work together to figure this thing out.” They loaned us money, taught us how to do business, even when they didn’t have money.

            • Kevin Levin Oct 2, 2012 @ 7:48

              I have a few concerns. 🙂

  • Andy Hall Oct 1, 2012 @ 17:50

    St. Andrew was a Scotsman?

    • Al Mackey Oct 1, 2012 @ 19:24

      Yeah, he came up with the flag just after he built the golf course. ; )

      • Al Mackey Oct 1, 2012 @ 19:26

        Okay, well, there WAS a St. Andrew the Scot.

        • Andy Hall Oct 2, 2012 @ 5:29

          I keep thinking of Billy Connolly as one of the Apostles, and that makes me smile.

  • Al Mackey Oct 1, 2012 @ 17:18

    He sounds drunk. Hope those kids get some actual history teachers.

  • Brooks D. Simpson Oct 1, 2012 @ 14:02

    These aren’t Confederate youth. They are kids.

    • Kevin Levin Oct 1, 2012 @ 14:08

      I just copied the title of the video, but you are absolutely right. H.K. freaked out a bunch of kids.

  • Barb Gannon Oct 1, 2012 @ 13:57

    I think these kids will run as far and as fast as they can from the “Lost Cause” after this presentation.

  • Chris L. Robinson Oct 1, 2012 @ 13:14

    Sigh.

    Sir, I am so embarrassed for you. This is beyond sad. I cannot shake my head slowly enough…

    • Kevin Levin Oct 1, 2012 @ 13:17

      I hear you. I feel sorry for those kids, who must have walked away wondering what just happened.

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