One needs to understand that Confederate heritage apologists aren't really interested in the past.
They are interested in a usable past to serve present needs.
They also see heritage as ultimately about themselves.
Listen as they talk about "we" and "us" and "you." It's not about the past. It's about a construct of the past that makes one feel good about one's ancestors (and not all of them have Confederate ancestors) and justifies one's present beliefs.
This is one reason they decry "revisionist history" and "political correctness." They imagine that an "objective" rendering of the past would confirm their belief system.
News flash: "Birth of a Nation" and "Gone With the Wind" are both exercises in "political correctness," white supremacy style.
Want a movie that summarizes mainstream understanding of the Civil War in 1940? Try "Santa Fe Trail."
In short, they believe that an "objective" view of history would confirm white supremacy and Confederate heritage assumptions about life and politics.
BTW, Southern heritage is not Confederate heritage. Southern heritage is far more inclusive and rich. Confederate heritage concentrates on four years of ultimate futility, and it's dominated by sore losers seeking to win in peace what they lost in war.
The irony of Confederate heritage is that the Confederacy became more popular after it died in 1865.
I have some close experience with this. I married into a southern family with Confederate ancestors. The racism, bigotry, and ignorance was palpable. Some of it surfaced over time in ways that made me realize that I would be better off elsewhere ... as I am. :)
The same sentiments were expressed by people who married into the family, so it was always touch and go.
It was like a #SHEAR2020 plenary nearly every week.
So I seceded.
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