@Troy
Surely, your cousin attached some other trauma to the American flag to deem it racist. She wasn’t enslaved under the American flag or confederate flag but the latter is the symbol of those who wanted the right to enslaved people to prop up their economy.
In fact, from this story, it seems she avoided neighbors for whom Old Glory symbolized something different. And I suspect, the American flag signaled her neighbors intent on doing harm I have no sort of trauma attached to the American flag - other than one was given to my mother for her husband's ultimate sacrifice -
Aside: Embracing any symbol, such as flag, is strange; especially when the focus should be on its principles instead.
Also, Neither Del nor Cynique wrote that Jefferson wasn't trash. They responded that the relationship between Jefferson and Hemings was nuanced. From my POV, their statement doesn’t absolve Jefferson of anything.
And speaking of Jefferson and Washington, while either may have performed alleged treasonous acts against England; they were founders of the Union. A statute of either would be more appropriate than one of Benedict Arnold. So, a statue of someone such as Lee who fought against the union wouldn’t be welcomed here either. I can see those in the confederate states remembering their war dead - but statues of the losing generals are disrespectful. Imagine one of those mosque here in the U.S. erecting a statue of Osama bin Laden.
We now know those statues are symbols that emboldened those filled with hate. It's best they go.
For whatever reason, however, there's a statue of George Washington in England’s Trafalgar Square. So maybe the Queen doesn’t hold a grudge. Or America is still a colony.