Williams: 'The Lost Cause is dead.' Let's dismantle its legacy beyond the symbols. MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS Jun 4, 2020 Jun 4, 2020 Updated Oct 20, 2022 0 1 of 2 Protesters gather at Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD A memorial to George Floyd was one of several placed at the base of the Robert E. Lee statue Thursday. ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/Times-Dispatch Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS kAm%96 @C:8:?2= @AA@?6?E @7 E96 #@36CE t] {66 DE2EF6 :DDF65 2 DE6C? AC@A96DJ 27E6C E96 >@?F>6?E H2D 6C64E65 :? `gh_]k^AmkAmy@9? |:E496== yC] — ?6HDA2A6C 65:E@C[ A@=:E:4:2?[ 32?<6C 2?5 4:G:= C:89ED 24E:G:DE — AC65:4E65 E92E E96 >@?F>6?E “H:== F=E:>2E6=J C6DF=E :? 92?5:?8 5@H? E@ 86?6C2E:@?D F?3@C? 2 =6824J @7 EC62D@? 2?5 3=@@5]”k^AmkAm|:E496==[ 65:E@C @7 E96 #:49>@?5 !=2?6E[ H2D?’E 5@?6] w6 HC@E6 @7 E96 3=24< >2?i “w6 AFE FA E96 {66 |@?F>6?E[ 2?5 D9@F=5 E96 E:>6 4@>6[ 96’== 36 E96C6 E@ E2<6 :E 5@H?]”k^Am kAm%96 E:>6 92D 4@>6] v@G] #2=A9 }@CE92> :D C6>@G:?8 {66 7C@> 9:D A656DE2= 2D D@@? 2D A@DD:3=6] #:49>@?5 |2J@C {6G2C $E@?6J H:== 2EE6>AE E@ 7@==@H DF:E H:E9 |@?F>6?E pG6?F6’D @E96C r@?7656C2E6 DE2EF6D :? E2?56> H:E9 r:EJ r@F?4:=>2? |:<6 y@?6D]k^Am People are also reading… Transgender woman sues for sexual discrimination against Salem DEQ office Smith Mountain Lake group has success in curbing destructive wakes Ferrum softball coach Josh Freeman resigns after three losing seasons 3 degrees in 4 years: Ferrum grad makes the most of her time in college State bar suspends Rocky Mount mayor Holland Perdue's law license Spanberger vetoed a bill to legalize skill games, yet thousands remain in operation FBI searching Portsmouth office of state Sen. Louise Lucas Ferrum volleyball coach out after just 6 conference wins in 4 years Franklin County leaned overwhelmingly against redistricting as vote passed statewide Virginia Tech, UVa, VMI, Radford teams meet APR standard Smith Mt. Lake triathlete with multiple sclerosis takes on toughest challenge yet Gamified math. Video read-alouds. Why parents are saying no to screens in class FCHS, Staunton River seniors earn SML Women's Club scholarships Franklin County YMCA offers swim lessons, lifeguard courses Products at 3 Rocky Mount vape shops seized for possibly illegal THC amounts kAmy@9? |:E496==[ E96 8C62E\8C62E\?6A96H @7 y@9? |:E496== yC][ 4@F=5 ?@E 36 92AA:6C]k^AmkAm“q62FE:7F=[” 96 D2:5 (65?6D52J] “xE 92D E@ 36 5@?6]”k^AmkAmp?5 |:E496==[ 2 #:49>@?5\32D65 H63 56D:8?6C 2?5 >FD:4:2?[ D2JD E92E H96? E92E A656DE2= 364@>6D G242?E[ “~7 4@FCD6[ x H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 >J 8C62E\8C62E\F?4=6 FA E96C6]”k^Am kAm%96 A@DD:3:=:E:6D 2C6 6?5=6DD[ 3FE x 42?’E E9:?< @7 2 36EE6C 49@:46 E92? |:E496==[ 2 762C=6DD 2?E:\=J?49:?8 4CFD256C H9@ @C82?:K65 2 DF446DD7F= DEC66E42C 3@J4@EE :? #:49>@?5 — 2 92=7\46?EFCJ 367@C6 E96 |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8 yC]\=65 |@?E8@>6CJ 3FD 3@J4@EE — 2?5 C2? 7@C 8@G6C?@C @7 ':C8:?:2 @? 2 “=:=J 3=24< E:4<6E” E92E :?4=F565 |288:6 {6?2 (2=<6C]k^Am kAm%92E H6 2C6 2E 2 >@>6?E ?@ @?6 D2H 4@>:?8 :D 5F6 E@ E96 q=24< {:G6D |2EE6C AC@E6DE6CD H9@ 42DE 2? F?7=:?49:?8 =:89E @? E96 F8=J DJ>3@=:D> 369:?5 E96D6 >@?F>6?ED] u6H :>286D 2C6 2D A@H6C7F= 2D E96 =:89E AC@;64E:@? @7 v6@C86 u=@J5’D 7246 @?E@ E96 8C277:E:\>2C<65 {66 >@?F>6?E[ 2D H2D 5@?6 (65?6D52J ?:89E]k^Am kAm“xE :D J@F?8 A6@A=6[ 2 ?6H 86?6C2E:@?[ E92E 2C6 =625:?8 FD[” D2:5 #@36CE y@9?D[ 2 C6=2E:G6 @7 q2C32C2 y@9?D[ H9@ 2D 2 `e\J62C\@=5 D49@@=8:C= :? !C:?46 t5H2C5 r@F?EJ 3642>6 2 96C@:?6 @7 E96 4:G:= C:89ED >@G6>6?E :? ':C8:?:2]k^AmkAm#:49>@?5’D >@?F>6?ED DFCG:G65 E96 >2CEJC5@>[ 2E E96 92?5 @7 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DED[ @7 ?:?6 3=24< 49FC498@6CD :? r92C=6DE@?[ $]r][ 2?5 w62E96C w6J6C :? r92C=@EE6DG:==6] qFE E96 ?2E:@?2= C6GF=D:@? 2?5 7FC@C F?=62D965 3J E96 E@CEFC6 @7 u=@J5 H9:=6 :? E96 4FDE@5J @7 |:??62A@=:D A@=:46 @77:46CD =2?565 2E E96 5@@CDE6A @7 |@?F>6?E pG6?F6]k^Am kAm%96 8C277:E: 92?5:H@C< @7 E96 AC@E6DE6CD[ :? :ED C2H?6DD[ 4@??64E65 E96 5@ED @7 >@56C?\52J A@=:4:?8 E@ :ED D=2G6 A2EC@= C@@ED] qFE H92E E9@D6 >@?F>6?ED C6AC6D6?E :D 72C >@C6 GF=82C E92? E96 8C277:E:] %96J D6?5 2 4=62C >6DD286 E92E 3=24< =:G6D 5@?’E >2EE6C 2E 2==] %96 =6824J @7 6?D=2G6>6?E 2?5 EC62D@? 92D 3=65 :?E@ @FC AC6D6?E]k^AmkAm“#:49>@?5 :D ?@ =@?86C E96 42A:E2= @7 E96 r@?7656C24J[” |2J@C {6G2C $E@?6J D2:5 %9FCD52J] pD :7 E@ C6>@G6 2== 5@F3E[ E92E >6DD286 H2D C6A62E65 3J 2 56D46?52?E @7 E96 >2? @? E96 >@?F>6?E]k^Am kAm“%96 {@DE r2FD6 :D 5625[” D2:5 E96 #6G] #@36CE (] {66 x'] “p ?6H 42FD6 :D FA@? FD[ @?6 @7 6BF2=:EJ 2?5 ;FDE:46 2?5 A6246 2?5 4@?4@C5]”k^Am kAm$E@?6J DF>>@?65 E96 H@C5D @7 E96 2=H2JD\6=@BF6?E y2>6D q2=5H:?i “w:DE@CJ :D ?@E E96 A2DE] xE :D E96 AC6D6?E] (6 42CCJ @FC 9:DE@CJ H:E9 FD] (6 2C6 @FC 9:DE@CJ]”k^AmkAm#:49>@?5 92D 364@>6 D@ 7:I2E65 2E 42CCJ:?8 E96 H6:89E @7 9:DE@CJ E92E :E 72:=65 E@ C62=:K6 H92E 2 3FC56? :E H2D[ F?E:= E96 56>@?DEC2E@CD >256 :E :>A@DD:3=6 E@ :8?@C6]k^AmkAm}@CE92> DA@<6 @7 9@H 2 =:EE=6 8:C= >:89E 766= FA@? DE2?5:?8 :? E96 `__\7@@E {66 4:C4=6 2?5 82K:?8 FA 2E 2 `a\E@? >@?F>6?E[ D:I DE@C:6D 9:89] “(96? :E’D E96 3:886DE E9:?8 2C@F?5[ :E D6?5D 2 4=62C >6DD286i %9:D :D H92E H6 G2=F6 E96 >@DE]”k^Am kAm%96 >@?F>6?E[ 3J :ED D966C D42=6[ H2D 56D:8?65 E@ 6G@<6 D9@4< 2?5 2H6] xE 82G6 H9:E6 DFAC6>24J 2 DJ>3@=:4 :>A6CG:@FD?6DD — 2?5 H@CD6[ 2 G6?66C @7 G:CEF6]k^Am kAm“x? a_a_[ H6 42? ?@ =@?86C 9@?@C 2 DJDE6> E92E H2D 32D65 @? E96 3FJ:?8 2?5 D6==:?8 @7 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6[” E96 8@G6C?@C D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 @AAC6DD:@? @7 3=24< 7@=<D H:== ?@E 6?5 H:E9 E96 C6>@G2= @7 E96D6 >@?F>6?ED] pD }@CE92> ?@E65[ C24:D> :D 2 DJDE6> E92E E@F496D 6G6CJ A6CD@? 2?5 6G6CJ 2DA64E @7 @FC =:G6D] qFE :E’D 2 DE2CE]k^Am kAm%96 8C2DDC@@ED ':C8:?:2 s676?56CD 7@C uC665@>[ yFDE:46 U2>Aj tBF2=:EJ 4966C65 E9:D EFC? @7 6G6?ED :? 2 DE2E6>6?E (65?6D52J] xE BF@E65 >6>36C y@D6A9 #@86CD[ 2 56D46?52?E @7 y2>6D pA@DE=6 u:6=5D[ H9@ C@D6 7C@> 6?D=2G6>6?E :? w2?@G6C r@F?EJ E@ 82:? 6=64E:@? E@ E96 ':C8:?:2 w@FD6 @7 s6=682E6D[ 2 J62C 367@C6 E96 {66 >@?F>6?E H6?E FA]k^Am kAm“x7 H6 42? 5:D>2?E=6 E96 DJ>3@=D @7 H9:E6 DFAC6>24J[ :E >62?D H6 42? 5:D>2?E=6 E96 =6824J @7 H9:E6 DFAC6>24J[” #@86CD D2:5] “(6 42? D2G6 2?5 :>AC@G6 AF3=:4 9@FD:?8] (6 42? 7F?5 F?56C7F?565 D49@@=D] (6 42? 255C6DD A@=:46 3CFE2=:EJ] (6 42? 5@ :E 7@C q=24< 7@=<D[ :?5:86?@FD A6@A=6[ A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C[ H@C<:?8\4=2DD H9:E6D]”k^Am kAm%96C6 H:== ?@ 5@F3E 36 C6D:DE2?46[ 3642FD6 ?@E9:?8 AC@8C6DD:G6 92AA6?D 96C6 H:E9@FE :E] qFE 2==@H FD E9:D >@>6?E @7 @AE:>:D> 2>:5 2 D62D@? @7 EC2F>2] |@G:?8 29625[ E96 A@DD:3:=:E:6D 2C6 6?5=6DD :? 2 DA246 AC6G:@FD=J C6D6CG65 7@C E96 46=63C2E:@? @7 @AAC6DD:@?] (6 >:89E D2=FE6 E96 DA:C:E @7 4@==64E:G6 5:DD6?E E92E >256 E9:D 92AA6?] ~C H6 4@F=5 A2J 2 7:EE:?8 2?5 :C@?:4 EC:3FE6 E@ |:E496== — 2 DA:C:EF2= AC@86?:E@C @7 E96 q=24< {:G6D |2EE6C >@G6>6?E 2?5 2 >2? H9@ D2H E9:D >@>6?E 4@>:?8]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< 96 H@F=5 D2J ‘x E@=5 J@F D@[’ ” 9:D 8C62E\8C62E\?6A96H D2:5] “$@>6E:>6D[ AC@A96DJ 42? 36 ;FDE:46]”k^Am kAmp?5 H96? E96 E:>6 4@>6D[ “x H@F=5 7:89E E@ 36 @?6 @7 E9@D6 92?5D E@ 3C:?8 E92E DE2EF6 5@H?]”k^Am mwilliams@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6815Twitter: @RTDMPW 0 comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Columns of RTD's Michael Paul Williams that won him a Pulitzer Prize