[nat sound: instrumental national anthem]
For many, it isn’t always easy to let your freak flag fly. But several U.S. states, have state flags that are… unique … .sometimes in interesting ways. From flags with toes, nudity, images of violence and peace, designs run the gambit — but there are two things many of them have in common: they aim to create a sometimes debatable sense of state pride, and they are blue. There is A LOT of blue.
Recents changes to state flags in Mississippi, Utah, and most recently, Minnesota, have brought into question the role of history and identity when it comes to unifying symbols like a flag.
Who do flags represent? Who might they exclude? To find out, we asked Northwestern students from different states their opinions on their states’ flags.
Monica Young, a freshman in Weinberg, hails from Biloxi, Mississippi. In January 2021, the state adopted a new flag, replacing one that included the confederate battle flag.
MONICA YOUNG: there are a lot of people that really identify with that flag given its heritage and their heritage. So there was definitely a lot of controversy surrounding it. A lot of people were overall happy with the new flag just because it just looks better.
The new Mississippi flag features the state flower, a magnolia, surrounded by stars and the phrase “In God We Trust.” Young said that the new flag embodies a sense of Mississippi pride that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Chase Wakelin, a Weinberg freshman from Atlanta Georgia, spoke about Georgia’s state flag, which was changed in 2003. It has three stripes and the state’s coat of arms in gold.
CHASE WAKELIN: It’s a pretty well appreciated design? I like I think that people appreciate that it calls back to Georgia’s status as one of the first 13 states.
The complicated histories of some states can make it difficult to have a flag that embodies the past in a way that provides a sense of community but does not offend. Wakelin said that the changes made to the state flag are a good thing.
WAKELIN: I think that Georgians are really prideful, and they’re proud, not of that part of their history, but of our history overall. And yeah, it’s hard to express that and ignore some parts of it. But maybe that’s a part better left out.
Besides state flags with symbols dating back to the Civil War, there are many state flags that show Indigenous people or symbols. One of these states is Massachusetts. Their state flag is white with a blue crest that shows the Native American Massachuset holding a bow and arrow, representing peace.
While there are varying opinions about this particular state flag, one Weinberg first-year, Patrick Berg, says that he likes how the flag points to the original inhabitants of the land but thinks that more could be done.
PATRICK BERG: I think it kind of pays homage a little to the initial residents with the lands, which I, you know, not a lot of states do that. And I know doing it is not enough. But it’s still I think it nice, less way of saying this is where the land came from.
There are currently no efforts to change the Massachusetts state flag. In Minnesota however, a measure to change the flag from one that featured the state crest and images of indigenous people to a more simple design.
MAYA HIDALGO: Well, I think it’s better than the old flags. But to me, it’s a little boring. I like I like the colors, because they do represent waters in Minnesota. But yeah, I think there could be a little bit more on it.
That was SESP second-year Maya Hidalgo. Despite her misgivings about the new flag, she agreed with the decision to change it from the old design.
HIDALGO: Sometimes that can be hard for people, especially when there’s so much history behind the flag and like with the symbolism, but I think like in this particular case, it was good to change it because the old one was pretty offensive and not very respectful to the people who lived in Minnesota before it became a state.
Young agrees that change is difficult. In her state of Mississippi, there are still remnants of the past despite the changing of the flag.
YOUNG: Well, if it’s a part of history is never truly going to be erased, even if you do change things, because like, for example, in the backyard of the Beauvoir there’s Confederate soldiers, graves, that have like hundreds and 1000s of like, tiny little Confederate flags.
The variety in flag designs across the fifty states and the push to update them has brought history and culture into conversation but for some, symbols like the flag do not garner much state pride.
BERG: I personally don’t have too much vested in the state flag. It’s not a big part of my identity. And I think I speak for a lot of people for Massachusetts saying that. So if people want to change it, go for it.
On the other hand, Young enjoys having something that unifies the state.
YOUNG: And so I really liked the change, because I can have pride in Mississippi, you know, rep my Magnolia and flag on the back of my car or on my tag, and not have to, like, think about, you know, the past and all that came from the flag.
For WNUR News, I’m Ella Smith with Rachel Spears.
