Controversial Alabama State Coat of Arms

 

Controversy

"The presence of the Confederate battle flag on the coat of arms has generated debate. Some view it as a symbol of racism and oppression, while others see it as a meaningful part of Alabama's history. Regardless, the historical accuracy of using a battle flag as opposed to the standard Confederate flag, along with the presence of the Union Jack, which Steve Murray, the director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, claims never flew over the state, is also disputable.^[3]"

^{(Source Wikipedia HERE)} 

 

     ^{I've had guests at the Capitol (where I am a docent) ask why the confederate battle flag is included in the state coat of arms, since the confederacy never had a legal claim to the state. Some 620,000 died on both sides of The U.S. Civil War to settle that question.}

^{(UPDATED in 2022) And, by the way, the organization that led the effort to change the seal in 1939 may say a lot about the resulting seal:}

"The change from the current great seal back to our old original state seal is the result of the work of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. For several years this band of patriotic women have campaigned for the change. Simultaneous bills were introduced in the Legislature, one by Speaker Hugh Merrill in the House and one by Dr. Daniel T. McCall in the Senate. The McCall bill, through the legal processes of legislation, was adopted. Under the act that authorized the change in our great seal the governor issued a proclamation advising the people of the change and new stationery carries our historical soul as its masthead."

 

"Upon the shield are found the emblems of the five nations that have held domination in whole or in part over that area that we now know as A1abama--Spain in 1540; France, from 1699 to 1763; Great Britian [sic], and again Spain, from that date to 1803, when the Stars and Stripes flew over us; from 1861-1865 the Confederacy and again the United States. The flags of Spain, France, Great Britain and the Confederacy are displayed upon the shield, these four being joined together in the center by the shield of the United States."

SOURCE HERE. 

And I guess I would also ask why there is no visual reference in the Coat of Arms to the Native- American tribes that certainly "held dominion" over the area long before the others came along:

"1492: Christopher Columbus lands on a Caribbean Island after three months of traveling. Believing at first that he had reached the East Indies, he describes the natives he meets as “Indians.” On his first day, he orders six natives to be seized as servants."

SOURCE HERE.