Mississippi Replaces Confederate-Themed Flag With Magnolia Flower Design
Image via Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Mississippi voters have chosen a new state flag design that features a beautiful flower on it.
The new design features a magnolia blossom surrounded by 20 stars as well as red bands and gold stripes. The stars—which are printed against a dark blue background—represent the state’s status as the 20th state admitted to the union while the gold five-pint star signifies Mississippi’s indigenous Native American tribes.
The new design, with the phrase “In God We Trust,” replaced the state’s 126-year-old pennant, which had elements of the Confederate flag.
Advocates have pushed to redesign the Confederate flag as it was a gruesome reminder of racism and oppression in the state. It also hampered Mississippi’s economic growth. However, several people were against it as the removal of the flag might led to the erasure of history.
It took the global protests spurred by the killing of George Floyd for legislators to take action. In June, Mississippi governor Tate Reeves signed a bill to retire the old flag and welcome a new one. The new design “shall honor the past while embracing the promise of the future.”
A nine-member committee reviewed 3,000 flag designs over the course of two months. The Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag then narrowed it down to two finalists and put the designs out for the public to vote.
The winning design, originally called ‘The New Magnolia’, is designed by graphic artist Rocky Vaughan, got 68 percent of the vote, according to NBC News.
The magnolia blossom in the center is described as “a symbol used to represent our state and the hospitality of our citizens,” per the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Old flag. Image via Shutterstock
This will be the new state flag of Mississippi. Voters overwhelmingly approved it. This is a great day for the state as we move forward from a divisive emblem that now rests in the past. pic.twitter.com/nZorS0tVUd
— Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) November 4, 2020
According to preliminary results, more than 70% of voters approved the new magnolia design for the Mississippi State Flag. Here's what happens next. https://t.co/gWhoiK2LOt pic.twitter.com/pD32vM5vup
— Clarion Ledger (@clarionledger) November 4, 2020
Judge Reuben Anderson, chair of the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag, released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/ShYDUL0TWT
— MS Depart. of Archives & History (@MDAH_Official) November 4, 2020
[via CNN, cover image via Mississippi Department of Archives and History]
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