The tragedy in South Carolina has catapulted our nation into another discussion of the lingering displays of the Confederate flag in public places. As a lifelong Mississippian and former chancellor of Ole Miss, I have been personally involved in this often debated, highly emotional issue.
In my tenure as chancellor at our university, we were able to put the flag behind us, but not without a long, contentious, and divisive public furor. During those painful years, we learned many lessons about Mississippi … and America. I received several death threats for "destroying our heritage." The messages originated from places as far as Montana, Maine and Idaho.