Mississippi Unveils Final 2 Flag Designs After Vowing To Drop Confederacy Symbol
Image via C5 Media / Shutterstock.com
Mississippi, the last former slave-holding state to vote out Confederacy symbols, is down to just two out of 3,000 submissions for the redesign of its flag.
The final two designs are ‘The Great River Flag’, which shows the Great River embedded into a red, white, and blue shield; and ‘The New Magnolia Flag’, which includes a graphic of magnolia in the middle, with red and gold bars against a blue background.
If chosen, the New Magnolia Flag will have its red and gold bars widened. The Great River Flag design, on the other hand, will have its original look retained.
The panel previewed the five final designs on a flagpole in front of the state capitol building in Jackson so commissioners could envision them better.
Shortlisted proposals included a blue design with a magnolia tree, one showing the skeleton of the state’s western border, and even an option with a mosquito—though commissioners later acknowledged that it was chosen by mistake.
Applicants were all advised to feature the US motto, “In God We Trust,” to replace the white supremacy symbol of a blue saltire cross with white stars.
Commissioners will select a flag design during a 2 September meeting, and the public will be shown the chosen version on the 3 November ballot. Should residents vote it out, the panel will produce a secondary design.
Meanwhile, the public can vote on their favorite design in a non-binding poll which will not affect the overall decision.
The Great River Flag design. “The design features a shield based on the 1798 seal of the Mississippi Territory below a five-point star on a blue banner,” the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) explains. “There are 20 marks on the shield: 18 vertical lines in red representing the three nations that occupied the Mississippi Territory (Spain, France, and Great Britain), and two white river waves representing the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico… Blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice; red presents hardiness and valor.” Image via Mississippi Department of Archives and History
The New Magnolia Flag design. “Anchored in the center field [is] a clean and modern Magnolia blossom, a symbol long-used to represent our state and the hospitality of our citizens,” says the MDAH. “The New Magnolia also represents Mississippi’s sense of hope and rebirth, as the Magnolia often blooms more than once and has a long blooming season. The New Magnolia is sleek and updated to represent the forward progression of Mississippi.” Image via Mississippi Department of Archives and History
[via Biloxi Sun Herald, images via various sources]
Also check out these recent news
