TN Historical Commission’s Vote on Williamson County Seal
Dear Members of the TN Historical Commission,
As a Williamson County resident, I am keenly aware that visitors come from all over to see our historical Civil War sites, as well as the quaintness of our small American town. They come, hopefully, to experience history in a tangible way. They can feel the bullet holes in the siding of Carter House, they can walk the path to where Union troops set up Fort Granger in 1862 as a federal post and signaling station.
Tourists and residents can also visit the African American History Museum, the McLemore House, which was built by a former slave on land that he purchased from his previous master. Over the years he shared plots of land with family members and built the predominately black-owned neighborhood called Hard Bargain, located just blocks from downtown Franklin.
I lived in that neighborhood. I visit these sites. I understand the value of knowing our shared history as a people.
What I don’t understand is why or how a group of people, not all of whom are from Williamson County, get to decide whether or not our county seal represents us as a community. I also don’t understand why its been allowed to represent us for as long as it has. But I guess you do and it has.
Seals represent a county government’s history, origins and ideals. It serves as letterhead and appears in legal documents and in courtrooms. I’m in marketing and brand development, and I see the seal for what it is, as a brand defining and marketing tool, a logo.
When building a brand identity, we consider its value propositions and pillars. We ask what makes it unique from others and what at its core does it wish to communicate. We need to know what is the aspirational identity it wants to offer the stakeholders or those it benefits.
So, let’s look closely at our seal and interpret our local governing body's brand.
On the county website it states that the seal’s 4 quadrants intend to represent our history, origins and ideals:
First, let’s discuss “the upper left section [which] depicts a flag and cannon, which symbolizes the rich history in the county.” Does it though? Because our “rich" history includes more than the 4 years it was embroiled in the Civil War. It also includes the slave market that persisted far longer than the war that occurred in the middle of the Franklin square. Should we also represent that with an auction stand that sold children in the shadow of the courthouse? What about our history that excluded our almost 50% African American population (in 1980’s, ten years after the seal was designed) from entering into Gray’s market or in the general seating at the Franklin Theatre? Our "Whites Only" history.
Since this is known as a “Civil War county” and much of our tourism and industry revolves around those four years, some could argue a cannon and flag is a good representation. So why not choose the flag that won? If logos or seals represent the aspirational identity of a resident, do we hope to affirm those who still believe in the ideals behind the confederate flag, a flag that represented an affront against the United States and a traitorous agenda.
[We could talk about the other quadrants, as well. The religion one being as equally biased and unconstitutional (Separation of church and state, anyone?) While a large percentage of our population may be a people of faith with a deep heritage in Christian heritage, what is Christian — or American even —about making those Williamson County residents who do not adhere to the same tradition unrepresented or dismissed in our county seal? But I digress.]
One of the people who designed our seal attended Peabody College in Nashville on a scholarship from the United Daughters of the Confederacy, though she did not graduate. What about that information seems representative, unbiased, or aspirational?
I cannot imagine that the historical commission could value the short “history” of this flag over the dignity of all residents in our county. History is meant to teach and to form a "more perfect Union.” And this flag does neither. We rejected slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and plenty more vile things that went on for more than the 53 year existence of a discriminatory seal. Let’s do our Williamson County history justice and reject this too.
Surely there is something more representative of our history, origins and ideals than the Confederate flag.
Though I still cannot fathom how the seal in its current state has lasted as long as it has, I implore you to be on the right side of history and make the historical action of voting to remove the Confederate battle flag from our seal.
Your fellow Tenneassean,
Sarah Braud
Co-founder and Board Member of The Public
www.thepublicfranklin.com
PS. I will also be adding my signature to the petition to have it changed which is closing in on 15,000 signatures, more than enough to warrant a change. http://chng.it/4CKnVbMZPY