Rebels or Racists? Beliefs about the Confederate Flag’s Symbolism and Discrimination

The purpose of the current research was to examine the extent to which beliefs that the Confederate flag stands for remembrance, rebellion, or racism were associated with discrimination in a helping situation. Similar methods were used in a Pilot Study and a Registered Report: nationwide samples of White adults in the United States were recruited and randomly assigned to read arguments stating that the Confederate flag stands for remembrance, rebellion, or racism. Next, they were asked to report their emotional reactions toward the argument and the extent to which they wished to help a White or Black person. The Pilot Study found that participants who read, but disagreed with, arguments that the flag stands for racism were less willing to help Black than White persons. Conversely, those who disagreed with arguments that the flag stands for remembrance or rebellion were more willing to help Black than White persons. Study 1 (the Registered Report) found that participants were more willing to help a Black person but did not replicate the Pilot Study findings as the greater likelihood of helping was independent of whether they agreed with an argument about the Confederate flag and the race of the person asking for help. Concerning emotional responses to arguments, Study 1 found that disagreement with the remembrance and rebellion arguments were associated with greater discomfort, negative feelings toward others, reactance, and White guilt. Agreement with the racism argument was related to greater negative feelings toward others and White guilt. Findings contribute to understanding the significance of beliefs about Confederate symbols in the United States.