10 Places in Pop Culture You May Have Missed the Confederate Flag on Display

Ludacris In 2005 during rap artist Ludacris' Vibe Awards performance of the song "Georgia," he sported a Confederate flag suit. During his performance, he ripped it off and wore red, black and green, which are Pan-African colors. According to CNN, Ludacris stated, "This flag represents the oppression that we as African-Americans have endured for years." Kid Rock Recently, rock artist Kid Rock has been vocal about his support of the Confederate flag, although he is not a Southerner. The last time that he used the flag was to promote his 2012 album Rebel Soul. He told Fox News to relay a message to the protesters in his hometown of Detroit: "Please tell the people who are protesting to kiss my ass/Ask me some questions." Kanye West A few years ago, rap artist Kanye West wore a Confederate flag patch on the right sleeve of his jacket. "The Confederate flag represented slavery in a way," West told AMP Radio. "That's my abstract take on what I know about it, right? So I wrote the song, 'New Slaves.' So I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It's my flag now. Now what you gonna do?" 'Dukes of Hazzard' TV Land recently discontinued the airing of Dukes of Hazzard reruns because of it being so heavy with Confederate flag imagery -- even down to the Duke boys' car. Outkast In the Outkast video "Ms Jackson," group member Andre 3000 sported a large Confederate flag belt buckle. CNN states that he told Vibe magazine that he wore it "for Southern pride and to rebel." LL Cool J and Brad Paisley Rapper LL Cool J and country music singer Brad Paisley caused an uproar after releasing what some called a horribly misguided duet titled Accidental Racist. It posited the wearing of Confederate flag apparel, a simple and acceptable expression of Lynyrd Skynyrd fandom, and suggests that tolerance of gold chains is a fair exchange for letting slavery “bygones be bygones.” "When I put on that T-shirt, the only thing I meant to say is I'm a Skynyrd fan. The red flag on my chest somehow is like the elephant in the corner of the South,'" sang Paisley. LL Cool J followed: "If you don't judge my do-rag, I won't judge your red flag. If you don't judge my gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains." Tom Petty Musician Tom Petty, during his 1985 Southern Accents Tour, displayed the image of the Confederate flag onstage. It began as a concept record about the South, but the concept part slipped away probably 70 percent or so into the album," Petty told Rolling Stone. "I just let it go, but the Confederate flag became part of the marketing for the tour. I wish I had given it more thought. It was a downright stupid thing to do." Petty also stated: "Beyond the flag issue, we're living in a time that I never thought we'd see. The way we're losing Black men and citizens in general is horrific. What's going on in society is unforgivable. As a country, we should be more concerned with why the police are getting away with targeting Black men and killing them for no reason. That's a bigger issue than the flag." Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz Rap group Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz used the Confederate flag on the cover of their 2001 album Put Yo Hood Up. According to CNN, Lil Jon says that by "showing it-- and showing it burning" that it takes power away from racists. Lil Jon also told the Daily Beast, "We burned the flag on the album cover and in the music video." Lynyrd Skynyrd According to CNN, Lynyrd Skynyrd in the 1970s used the Confederate flag as a symbol of rebellion. Although group member Gary Rossington told CNN in 2012 that they would stop using the flag, not too long after they started using it sparingly along with the American flag. Molly Hatchet Southern rock band Molly Hatchet proudly defends the Confederate flag. According to CNN, guitarist Bobby Ingram told Hot Metal in 2013, "We still stand by our heritage, which is the South." In addition, Ingram also believes that the flag is not "racist at all."

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