As a millennial raised in California, I was under the impression that people in the south flew that flag to express southern pride. Not in a racist or mean sense, but just out of the pride they have for where they come from. Because when you think about it, The South as a whole doesn't really have any other symbols unfortunately. And I assumed people there accepted that flag under this context. I mean it's obviously a very very popular symbol down there. How insane would the social climate be in the southern states if this context wasn't accepted? If everyone flying the flag was a massive racist and everyone who saw it got that message?

That said, I've never even been to the southern states or met anyone from there, so idk. I just think about Skynyrd. That flag was practically their icon, but most of the original band consisted of left wing hippies who supported civil rights. THAT said, I've never been to the 70's either. Did people have a problem back then with their usage of the flag or was the context accepted?