Mississippi’s State Flag: It’s Time for Change
Molly Ryan
BRANDON, MISSISSIPPI—Almost every morning for the past four years, my peers have hopped out of their cars and marched into school for first period - backpacks on and worried they might fail whatever test they have that day. Hardly anyone seems to notice or care about Mississippi’s state flag they pass merely fifty yards from the schools’ entrance. Clearly and inescapably, the flag depicts the Confederate battle emblem. For decades, this symbol has caused a polarizing divide between both non-residents and residents of Mississippi. Yet it has been normalized. Though it is long overdue, changes to the state flag of Mississippi are finally happening.
On Sunday, Mississippi lawmakers voted to abolish the current state flag, which many see as an unavoidable reminder of racism throughout the state. The new state flag will be developed by appointed members of a commission, with almost full freedom of design. The catch? The new flag is mandated to read “In God We Trust,” another controversial phrase but a phrase that ultimately helped abandon the current flag. The resolution states that the new flag will be designed by September 14th. A special election will be held on November 3rd to ensure that a majority of electors vote for the new design, and with a majority vote, the future design will be enacted as the official state flag.
Pressure from individuals and organizations such as the SEC (the Southeastern Conference) and NCAA have undoubtedly propelled Mississippi to make this much-needed change. Public figures who call Mississippi their home, including Morgan Freeman and Faith Hill, have recently used their platform to speak out, rallying for change. Additionally, many well-known athletes have refused to play until a new flag is established. In any case, it shouldn’t take this amount of national pressure to change a flag that blatantly divides us. Despite different backgrounds, we should all work toward unity, and we should covet a better image.
Living and growing up in Mississippi, I often hear the argument to protect our current state flag because “it’s our history.” It is not uncommon to find the state flag hanging outside of local shops and homes. At a high school pep rally, one peer brought a Confederate flag and was promptly punished, demonstrating that the Confederate symbol is, in fact, unacceptable. Mississippi is the only state in the nation to still have the Confederate symbol on our flag, despite having one of the highest percentages of black residents. Still, my state has been incredibly slow and reluctant to necessary change. While I understand the heritage and identity that many place in the flag, it represents a terrible piece of our history. As a Mississippian, it is a piece of our history of which I am not proud. We must recognize the excruciatingly long series of injustices explicitly symbolized by the Confederate flag. A new flag must be adopted that represents all Mississippians.
Regardless of how long it has taken to bring about change, I am proud of Mississippi for beginning to take the right steps. Changing the flag, however, will not solve everything. Resistance is still inevitable, and there is still a long journey ahead before Mississippi’s image will truly change. Mississippi, we must continue to make a stand and raise our voices to create progress. And in the meantime, let us fly the new flag high and with pride.