Mississippi should do a modern rendition of the Magnolia Tree for it's flag. That would be similar to California having it's homage to the short lived Bear Republic. Perhaps they can have a theme homage to the Spanish (Bonnie Blue) rule in some form. Whatever, the confederate army war banner of stars and bars needs to be done away with; it is too closely associated with slavery and post-war lost cause mythology. Neither has any place in modern America beyond the history books.

I think a Magnolia flower like this one below on a blue field would be stunning.



As for Rebels, while the name may have specific civil war connotations, but the name itself is generic, so can be transformed. Updated to mean civil rights leaders and reformers. But this might not be possible, as a hard core might fight to keep rebel associated with slavers. (For UNLV I always felt it was out of place -- running rebels could have been the road runners or desert stallions or the coyotes or some other desert thing)

The Mississippi State flag however must go. There is no way it cannot be associated closely with slavery and segregation.