Why People Fly the Black American Flag and What It Means

What does the black American flag symbolize?

Self-defense and a willingness to fight. The flag is flown by conservatives who want to let those around them know that they aren’t afraid of defending themselves in the face of a perceived threat. For more extreme conservatives, it means they won’t protect (or give quarters to, hence “No Quarters”) any prisoners and would rather die than be taken prisoner themselves. Black American flags started popping up around the 1970s, when artist Jasper Johns began painting variations of the classic red, white, and blue flag. They’re rumored to have been flown by the Confederates in the Civil War, but that is false.

Why do people fly the black American flag?

To express their willingness to defend themselves against threats. They want to notify their neighbors that they aren’t willing to surrender against people who threaten them. For those who believe the black American flag was flown by the Confederates, they want to pay homage. If you are interacting with a neighbor who flies the all black American flag, be cautious when speaking about your political opinions, as they may disagree with them.

Different Types of Black Flags

Black Flag The all black flag signifies that someone won’t surrender. It is meant to be the opposite of the white flag, which is the worldwide symbol for surrender. The person flying it uses it to show that they won’t back down in wartime. You can use the black flag emoji when you're having a bad day or feeling rebellious! You can fly the black flag in times of mourning.

Black and White American Flag The black and white American flag is often used to represent freedom, unity, and justice. It does not have a clear meaning, but it has almost exclusively been used to express political resistance and the fight for freedom, justice, and equality.

Jolly Roger Also known as the pirate flag, this was flown by pirates in the 18th century. It was used to tell the ship being approached to immediately surrender or else risk the execution of everyone on board. Pirates usually hoisted this flag right before approaching a ship. Due to the pirates’ “No Quarter” policy, the Jolly Roger has become associated with the all black American flag.

Pan-African Flag This flag is known to represent Black power. It was designed by Marcus Garvey, a political activist, in 1920 and serves as a symbol of pride and coalition among people of African descent.