What Does the Black American Flag Mean? It Depends on Which One!

For some people, flags are simply pieces of fabric with distinctive designs and colors. For others, they think of a flag as a symbol or a signaling device. Others still, imagine a flag as a decoration. All of those musing are true. And, they are all true when it comes to the Black American Flag.

Ask someone to tell you what a flag is, in modern language. You will find that there are different meanings, for everyone. Ultimately, many people will immediately think about a national flag. Some will think about state governments. However, a few might think of other symbols like the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is symbol of the pathway to American opportunity. And, two American flags wave freely above it for all to see.

The Black American Flag

In recent years, many Americans received an introduction to a new flag. A lot of them don’t really understand it. Whether it is on tik tok, facebook, or another social media platform this symbol keeps popping up. It is the Black American Flag.

It’s entrance into their daily lives brings about mixed emotions. They think about different things. Some think about good things. Meanwhile, others think about bad things. A few seconds on tiktok can set their minds in motion.

To best understand the Black American Flag, we should probably start with the American Flag…

American Flag

The American Flag has become the symbol of national pride. It is the symbol of real America. The flag has been a fixture behind our American Presidents. From, current President Joe Biden, to the previous President Donald Trump. Even all the way back to President Abraham Lincoln. “Old Glory” has been right there. You know the one, the “normal American flag”.

You’ll find it in all parts of the country. Enemy soldiers have come to fear it. Enemy forces shrink from it when it enters the battlefield. Captured enemy combatants have dropped their weapons. They gratefully surrendered to it. And, the world came to respect it. Or, at least, for a while.

The banner was the hallmark of the American revolution. And, it eventually became the symbol that represented the fight against oppression on the world stage. Of course, there are many people who would disagree with that point. However, for the most part, America is undeniably one of the most free countries in the world. It represented everything from struggle to violent insurrection at times when it was necessary to preserve freedom.

American Flag Origin

Historians gave Betsy Ross credit for creating flag of the United States of America. This was way back in the 18th century. However, there is little, if any, evidence to support this claim. One thing is certain, no one gave her credit for it, officially, during her lifetime.

Eventually, it evolved into its current form. It all begins with the blue elements of the flag. A blue rectangular field on which 50 white stars sit. This blue field represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The 50 white stars represent the 50 states. And then, there are the 13 horizontal stripes that represent the 13 original colonies (states).

The stripes are alternating in red and white from top to bottom. You’ll find 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes. The white stripes represent purity and innocence. Meanwhile, the red stripes represent hardiness and valor.

Essentially, the American flag is the opposite of a white flag. When an opposing force wants to give up, they wave the white flag. America has never been the surrendering type. Therefore, it’s fair to say that this flag is the polar opposite of the white flag of surrender.

As a side note, I’m sure there are a good amount of folks out there who absolutely despise the American flag. And, they have their reasons. Some of them are even valid.

Black American Flag

For many, “Old Glory” is the White American Flag. They feel that it doesn’t truly represent nonwhite people. It’s a symbol of racial injustice in America. People of color have mixed feelings about the American Flag. And, it’s understandable. That’s because Black Americans have had a unique experience in this country.

It’s fair to say that diversity is a big part of the American story. However, that story is very different depending on who’s telling it. People of color will tell it differently than a white person. And, Foundational Black Americans even more so. Imagine what thoughts a Black American living through the Jim Crow Era had going through their minds about the flag.

Let’s take a look at the meaning of the Black American Flag…

Flag Meanings

Obviously, different flags have different meanings. And, in many cases, the colors that the flag’s designers use derive that meaning. Each color has a different meaning. That assigned meaning varies depending on the country, region, or other affiliation. In addition, some flags use pictures and symbols in order to represent important ideas.

What does the Black American Flag Mean

At first thought, the answer to that question seems simple. But, in all actuality, it’s not. Why, because it isn’t really a very clear question. The reason for this is simple. It depends on the context.

There are actually 3 different flags that Americans have called the Black American Flag. They are; the African-American Flag, the Black American Heritage Flag, and the black (color) American Flag (No Quarter). In order to get the specific meaning of the black flag, we must first clarify the context.

The African American Flag

David Hammons created artwork for the African-American Flag in 1990. He combined the colors of the Pan-African flag with the pattern of the flag of the United States. In doing so, he produced a work that he intended to represent the African American identity. Initially, he made the design for the art exhibition “Black USA”. The exhibition was showing at an Amsterdam museum.

Mainstream America, however, got its first real glimpse of it that year as well. It debuted during the inauguration of David Dinkins. Dinkins became the first African American mayor of New York City. This followed his 1989 election.

His campaign proudly displayed the African-American flag design. Later, members of the black lives matter movement carried that same flag. Even an alarming number of military members proudly displayed the image in their personal lives.

The Black American Heritage Flag

Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson created the Black American Heritage Flag. Their belief that Black Americans were losing their connection to Africa motivated them. Societal conditions indicated the well founding of their belief. The two saw a need for a symbol of the Black Culture within America. After all, the Atlantic Slave Trade resulted in a unique type of culture. The slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries both stripped and enriched the experiences of black people.

Charles and Jackson meant for their design to represent resilience, power, and unity. Its creation was emblematic of the time and love that went into developing America’s Black culture. It also symbolized the struggle for racial justice. Even during harrowing and difficult times in the United States, Black Americans stood strong and survived. The Black Heritage flag embodies that.

The American Flag Colored Black

The American Flag, when colored black, has a significant meaning. It has nothing to do with black people or black space. And, it’s not a new trend or a new development. It has a meaning that few are familiar with. It alludes to a state of war.

Displaying the pattern of a flag with a black background intimidates the enemy. It means that enemy forces will receive no quarter. While displayed, killing enemy combatants is the rule. There is no taking prisoners. It represents the height of necessary brutality. Enemy soldiers should beware.

Although a serious message, reactions to the flag are downright funny at times. In fact, the results of a new poll from the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics makes some interesting claims. It supposed that more than 50 percent of Trump supporters want “red states” to secede from the Union.

I’m not so sure that’s real. Most women I asked, and an equal number of guys, don’t feel that way. They don’t take those responses seriously.

The Pan-African Flag

Sometimes, when people seek the meaning of a Black American flag, they actually mean the Pan-African flag. We also know it as the Black Liberation flag. The UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) uses it too.

The Pan-African flag is a tricolor flag. It consists of three equal horizontal bands. The colors are (from the top) red, black and green.

On the 13th of August of 1920, the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) formally adopted the Pan-African flag. They did it during their month long Madison Square Garden convention in New York City. They also documented the adoption in Article 39 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World.

Various countries and territories have used variations of the Pan-African as well. The goal was to represent their shared Garveyism beliefs. Variations typically use the same base colors. Meanwhile, they add different colors to express a more specific meaning.

Other Flags We Often See in America

Wherever we look, we find different flags. They represent vastly different things. Some allude to a historic event. Some refer to a means of expanding ideas. Still, others are reminders of community guidelines.

Here are just a few examples.

Thin Blue Line Flag

The Thin Blue Line flag represents support for police officers who have died in the line of duty. Americans also know this flag as the blue flag. There are actually two distinct versions of it.

One version features a solid black background with a single blue stripe running across it horizontally.

Another version is a modification of the American flag. In this version, designers rendered the American flag in black and white with the stripe beneath the field and in blue.

Blue Lives Matter Supporters use both versions in their support of the police force and law enforcement generally.

Confederate Flag

When people think of the Confederate flag, they think of the Battle Flag. Confederate soldiers from southern states carried it into battle during the American civil war. Many say it represents white supremacy. Others claim it simply represents southern pride, not racial tension.

Many blacks view those who fly it as white supremacists. That’s often true whether they admit it or not. Some even believe that they have secret civil war plans. They see a coming race war in America. In any case, a lot of Black Americans consider it an implicit threat. Oddly enough, that’s exactly how many White Americans see the African American flag.

Gay Pride

Artist Gilbert Baker designed the Gay Pride Flag in 1978. He and others revised it many times since then. Americans also know it as the Gay Pride Flag. Overall, it represents the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community. Proponents fly it as a symbol of gay pride. It appears at events around the world. We see it all the time in daily life. People seem to love to express their sexual orientation.

The most common version of the Gay Pride Flag has six colors. It features red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The colors appear as horizontal stripes with the first color, red, at the top. This is how they would appear in nature when a rainbow is present. However, the designer meant for the colors to emphasize the diversity of the LGBTQ community.

There is a common attempt to marry the Gay struggle with the Black struggle. They fly the Gay Pride flag and the Black American flags together. In reality, there is little similarity between the two struggles. As always, there are people willing to diminish the struggle that blacks experience in America to attempt to transfer power to their own personal fight.

Political Statements

Flags are often very popular tools of political activity. From right-wing opinion leaders to socialist liberals, flags are in abundance. In fact, people often blame the flags for inciting political violence. Apparently, a symbol expressing an opposing political view has become a form of violence. Most often, contradictions riddle the controversy. Simply search the term “liberal opinion site living blue” and you’ll find a number of sites shining lite on liberal bias regarding red versus blue states.

In any case, flags are a common way of indicating a type of political power. That power applies even if limited to a single vote. You’ll find both your Democratic and Republican neighbors flying their flags throughout the community. Behind that, you’ll often find a fair share of political tension. They fly in the background as Trump supporters make lots of videos of their guns. They fly in the background as Obama and Biden supporters make cries of victimhood. Basically, wherever people are expressing different political beliefs you can find flags expressing political statements all around.

Organizational Flags

Another category we see often is organizational flags. These are flags representing organizations like schools and businesses. A good example is the flag of the University of Virginia. Another example would be a simple flag that you see for emergency services. Organization members display them out of pride in their affiliation. Or, to make people aware of services available.

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So, what we see is that there are flags everywhere.

All representing a host of different things.

In terms of importance and relevance, I’d say that a flag represent Black Americans would be high up on the list.

Blacks in America have a rich history.

We have a unique experience.

It only makes sense that we have a symbol showing our pride in that.

That’s why we have the Black American Flag.

Peace and Blessings!