The DeDixiefication of the South Continues

Ole Miss Band

The DeDixiefication of the South continues this week with the news that the University of Mississippi’s marching band has dropped “Dixie” from its playlist. The newly expanded and renovated Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will further highlight our best traditions and create new ones that give the Ole Miss Rebels the best home field advantage in college football,” Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement. “Because the Pride of the South is such a large part of our overall experience and tradition, the Athletics Department asked them to create a new and modern pregame show that does not include Dixie and is more inclusive for all fans.”

For the Ole Miss community this is the latest in a string of decisions intended to remove or re-interpret Confederate iconography on campus.

Earlier this week Vanderbilt University announced that it will pay the United Daughters of the Confederacy $1.2 million dollars to rename Confederate Memorial Hall. It is the subject of my latest essay at The Daily Beast, which was published earlier today.

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13 comments… add one
  • Woodrowfan Aug 20, 2016 @ 16:29

    pretty pale cheerleading squad.

    • Kristoffer Aug 21, 2016 @ 5:31

      Plenty of variety in the band though. Weird.

      • Woodrowfan Aug 21, 2016 @ 10:20

        one group has a more sexualized role than the other. maybe that plays a part.

  • London John Aug 20, 2016 @ 9:21

    Is this quote from Lincoln after Lee’s surrender authentic?: “I have always thought `Dixie’ one of the best tunes I have ever heard. Our adversaries over the way attempted to appropriate it, but I insisted yesterday that we fairly captured it. [Applause.] I presented the question to the Attorney General, and he gave it as his legal opinion that it is our lawful prize. [Laughter and applause.] I now request the band to favor me with its performance.’”

  • Ted McKnight Aug 20, 2016 @ 4:00

    Maybe, just maybe if a few more traditions are DeDixiefied, the death, destruction and continuing racial strife will become a figment of our imagination and true history will be replaced with fantasy. Up will become down and white will become black. The best part will be the recognition that Lincoln will be DeDeitied and therefore be recognized as one of the most corrupt (railroads, etc.) and inept presidents ever to serve. Then he can’t be blamed for the horror he caused our nations.

    • Kevin Levin Aug 20, 2016 @ 4:08

      In the meantime, two schools have the opportunity to continue to steer their schools in directions that reflect their current values.

    • msb Aug 20, 2016 @ 5:19

      I have no objection whatever to students of all ages having a more accurate understanding of the cause, course and results of the Civil War or to governments and churches ceasing to pretend that monuments to racism and treason are a welcome part of all Americans’ past and present.

    • Scott Ledridge Aug 20, 2016 @ 7:59

      So, what you’re saying, is that to keep “true history”(your version of it) alive is to keep institutional racism alive. I agree, to keep your version alive would mean keeping institutional racism alive.

      • Andy Hall Aug 20, 2016 @ 10:40

        Yesterday a person unhappy with the decision to drop “Dixie” at the University of Mississippi posted on Facebook a photo of students there waving a Confederate Battle Flag. The photo was taken in 1962; the students were protesting the enrollment of James Meredith. The person who posted it added the caption, “when Ole Miss was Ole Miss.

        I don’t presume to know whether the person who posted it (1) is genuinely nostalgic for the good ol’ days of segregation, or (2) is just profoundly ignorant of the history of Ole Miss, the flag, and the South generally. But one or the other must surely be true, and at this point I don’t really know if it makes any difference which it really is.

        • Scott Ledridge Aug 20, 2016 @ 18:01

          “But one or the other must surely be true, and at this point I don’t really know if it makes any difference which it really is.” – I want to believe there’s still people that are genuinely ignorant, and once they know they change their stance. But, that belief does dim every passing day.

    • TFSmith Aug 20, 2016 @ 16:32

      “Corrupt”? Please, do tell … Corruption generally suggests someone walking away with something to show for it; the Lincolns weren’t exactly gilded age types in the 1850s and 1860s.

      And “inept”? Really? He seems to have been pretty effective at destroying the rebellion and slavery. Or would you prefer slavery to have survived?

  • TFSmith Aug 19, 2016 @ 18:45

    “…away down south in the land of traitors, rattlesnakes, and alligators…”

    Some of the “competing” lyrics from the day are fun to read; perhaps Ole Miss could recycle the tune.

    Nice job on the essay regarding “ex-confederate” Hall at Vanderbilt.

    Best,

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