Being from the south, you have it all wrong. The Confederate flag is a point of southern pride. It does not mean racism. Blacks and whites alike have and use the confederate flag. Stone mountain GA has a monument to the Confederacy depicting Stone Wall Jackson, and flies every version of the Confederate Flag. This is in a primary black community and they few have no issue with it.
Moreover, the civil war was regarding states rights and protectionist tariffs placed on the South's cotton industry. The North's manufacturing industry couldn't compete with the South's cotton industry, so they placed heavy tariffs on the goods. This was do to free labor, but the misnomer that the civil war was fought to end slavery is revisionist history at its finest.
The North also owned slaves up to and well into the civil war. Additionally, the Emancipation Proclamation didn't end slavery. It freed the slaves in the South. At the time the south had succeeded and wasn't part of the U.S. anymore, so the legislation itself was meaningless. It was an attempt to secure more solders to fight for the North.
Finally, I'd like to note I do not agree with slavery or the treatment of blacks in this part of history. However, changing this part of history so overtly is idiotic at best and down right dangerous at its worst. This land of political correctness has gone too far, changing history to suit its needs and censoring a symbol that is part of this nations history. The confederate flag has been around for over 100 years. Fifteen years ago this wouldn't even have been a discussion. All of a sudden the Confederate flag has become a huge focal point of the propagation of racism. We are blaming a flag for the actions of a mentally disturbed individual. Does no one see how wrong that is?
Here is the honest truth, the current state of race relations in the US has degenerated to the lowest levels in 30 years. This is due to a few factors: the current state of news media, continued legislation that distinguishes blacks from whites, and the crazy movement into extreme political correctness. You want to fix racism; ignore the continued news media blasting of racism in America, its only making everything worse; remove legislation targeting minorities, how can one expect to be treated the same as everyone else when they are singled out legally; get over this extreme political correctness, its getting to the point you can't speak without offending someone.