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Published On: Sun, Jul 12th, 2015

Dr Ibrahima Seck: New Orleans Saints’ symbol is a racist icon of slavery

In the wake of the Confederate Flag controversy, which was spawned out of the Dylann Roof murder of Christians in a South Carolina church, some are calling out the NFL’s New Orleans Saints for the logo — fleur de lis, a French symbol used by royal families.

“As an African I find it painful, and I think people whose ancestors were enslaved here may feel it even harder than I do as an African,” said slave historian Dr. Ibrahima Seck to WWLTV.

Seck connects the usage of the fleur de lis, to “code noir,” or black code, which was adopted in Louisiana in 1724, to the policies to govern the state’s slave population, stating that when a slave caught running away, “would be taken before a court and the sentence would be being branded on one shoulder and with the fleur de lis, and then they would crop their ears.”

Terence Fitzmorris, a Tulane professor, confirmed that the fleur de lis has roots in the French revolution and, similar to other symbols, was used as a mark of supremacy.

“It was a brutal way of scarring someone and also identifying someone as a particular troublemaker,” Fitzmorris said before disconnecting that with the legacy of the Confederate Flag.

 

“The fleur de lis was the symbol of a monarchy. The United States of America was a slave-holding republic, not just the south. Where do you stop? Do you get rid of all symbols?”

Seck contradicts his own assertion, saying the symbol is now one of unity.

The symbol is emblazoned throughout the city of New Orleans, and is the official symbol of Louisiana after Governor Bobby Jindal signed a law in 2008.

photo/ Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth

photo/ Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth

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About the Author

- Catherine "Kaye" Wonderhouse, a proud descendant of the Wunderhaus family is the Colorado Correspondent who will add more coverage, interviews and reports from this midwest area.

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  1. Eidolon says:

    “As an African”…Well, what is she, an African or an American. Does anyone know how many actual decedents of slaves are here in America now?

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