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Friends,
There has been an increase in social media and news outlets showcasing law-abiding citizens taking down the American Flag and replacing it with a blacked-out version.
And people are reacting.
Now, before you proceed, let me warn you that this blog is written with a clear head, fully aware that some readers may find it uncomfortable or disingenuous.
Let me be clear: what I’m telling you isn’t speculation or hearsay. My perspective comes from firsthand experience—the kind that leaves scars. I’ve carried a rifle through dust storms and darkness. I’ve watched my blood seep into foreign soil. I held my child’s hand as I explained why I had to leave again. This country’s struggles are written in my family’s story.
And now I bear the scars of 20-plus years, both visible and invisible.
That- and I am a historian.
What Is Going On?
Unless you have been living under a rock, refuse to watch the news, or have zero social media platforms, you know that there have been countless videos and pictures of Americans swapping out the Red, White, and Blue for a blacked-out version of the flag.
Usually accompanied by a patriotic song to invoke a feeling of standing against ‘the man’ and standing with the fundamental belief systems of how a government should be run.
Back Story
Let’s talk about single-color flags. We all know that one particular color flag has been displayed throughout the generations during times of war.
The White Flag. Used to symbolize surrender. Fly the white flag, and in theory, peace between the warring parties should stop, and peace talks ensue.
But what about other flags used during wars? We often forget about the Blood Flag.
A pattern-free red flag was the nautical symbol in European waters to signify the intention that the crew was ready to fight and that no quarter would be given to the other party. In other words, no prisoners would be taken. Reading between the lines- this was a battle to the death.
The Vikings (750-1200 AD) used painted shields during their maritime travels.
The 1290s saw the first use of the Blood Flag (or, in that case, a streamer), used as a sign of battle.
In 1647, the Blood Flag was a prominent part of the Royal Navy’s instructions to its crews.
[a]s soon as the Admiral shall hoist a Red Flag on the flagg staff at the fore- top – mast – head, and fire again, every Ship in the fleet is to use their utmost Endeavour to engage the enemy in Order the Admiral has prescribed to them
Now, in full disclosure, by the time the American Revolution rolls around, mostly only pirates are using it.
From Red to Black
When did the flag change colors?
As much as most people don’t want to know, the earliest historical records date back to the 1800s and were primarily used by ‘Anarchists.’
I say this word loosely because there is a reason behind the methodology. For some background, we have to travel to France, home of the revolutionaries.
First Use
In the 1830s, a series of revolts occurred in France over the issue of silk production. A bad economy and a decline in silk prices led to widespread unemployment and a growing number of people on the brink of starvation. The workers demanded that a minimum price be imposed on all silk, and the government (surprise, surprise) said no. What ensued were three different revolutions in 1831, 1834, and 1848.
The 1843 revolt was a bloodbath, and 10,000 Frenchmen were either deported or imprisoned by the government.
Tennis Court Oath in Versailles on 20 June 1789. (Credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images)
The flag was flown in 1831 as a symbol of the morning of liberty lost. This is a key phrase. Remember it because we will circle back.
Anarchists Use The Black Flag
Just a few short years later, a woman named Louise Michel flew the Black Flag on 9 March 1883. She participated in the Paris Commune, a revolutionary government that seized power in Paris from 18 March to 28 May 1871.
What were they protesting?
To make a long story short, the haves vs. the have-nots.
During their brief reign, they implemented some changes.
The Commune governed Paris for two months, establishing policies that tended toward a progressive, anti-religious system of their own self-styled socialism, which was an eclectic mix of many 19th-century schools. These policies included the separation of church and state, self-policing, the remission of rent, the abolition of child labor, and the right of employees to take over an enterprise deserted by its owner. All Roman Catholic churches and schools were closed.
Other Countries’ Use Of It
During the Russian Revolution, Nestor Makhno’s partisans became famous for their rebellious actions. Under the banner of the Black Flag, his army successfully kept a large portion of Ukraine free from centralized power for several years. Their flag bore the phrases “Liberty or Death” and “The Land to the Peasant, The Factories to the Workers.
Emiliano Zapata, a Mexican revolutionary, also used a black flag adorned with symbol”s such as a skull and crossbones and the Virgin Mary, along with the slogan “Land & Liberty.”
In 1925, Japanese anarchists formed the Black Youth League, and when the federation reformed in 1945, their publication was named Kurohata.
Is There A Law Prohibiting Its Use?
Is the flag itself illegal? No.
Is the theory of ‘No quarter given’ illegal?
Technically? Yes.
Now, this is where the argument of its use dates back to the Civil War comes into play. The practice was banned in 1863, created by Franz Lieber and enacted by President Lincoln.
It was in response to Union soldiers seeking revenge against the Confederates. The Leiber code ensured that all Confederate sympathizers’ lives would be spared.
The Department of Defense Law of War Manual: “It is prohibited to order that legitimate offers of surrender will be refused or that detainees, such as unprivileged belligerents, will be summarily executed. Moreover, it is also prohibited to conduct hostilities on the basis that there shall be no survivors.”
So Why Now?
Why is the Black Flag making a comeback here in the U.S.?
This is my own theory—no one else’s.
Because the government is in a shambles. Left, Right, Middle—it doesn’t matter. We are all engaged in a political war of ideology.
Most Americans do not believe in the destruction of private property. Most Americans don’t have the time to spend weeks camped out on a college campus to protest a war in another country. Hell, most Americans don’t have the time to leave work to vote.
Law-abiding Americans feel trapped. They are watching the country disintegrate as those in Washington, D.C., fling insults at each other about false eyelashes and bleached blond hair.
Our congress representatives don’t know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Hell, most Americans don’t either- but that’s a blog for another day.
From one month to the next, all we hear about is how one political leader is trying to oust another because ‘they didn’t do what I wanted them to.’
The Trial Of The Century
Whether you want to admit it or not, President Trump’s recent trial WAS the trial of the century.
The entire nation was watching to see how it would unfold. And how our government would react.
Instead of staying neutral, we watched as it became a political battleground to garner votes.
Lift, right, or middle—you must admit that I am right. Protesters, supporters, political leaders, and even ‘celebrities’ came out to use it to gain votes for the upcoming election.
Not to ensure that the law was used as intended.
And Then Starts The Silent Protest
For years now, we Americans have watched as the state and the country’s capital were overrun by protesters. We looked on with horror as city blocks were destroyed and looted.
Small businesses failed, families went bankrupt, and corporate businesses were given a handout. Homes were lost, and rent skyrocketed. College students took out loans for a piece of paper that the ‘American Dream’ told them they had to have, and then we hit a depression, and they couldn’t pay back the high-interest-rate loans.
Retirement and Social Security have become a joke.
This is a lot for any citizen to walk through silently.
So, some people are choosing to use the Black Flag as a symbol of their need for change.
Final Thoughts
I honestly don’t believe that Americans are going to go wild, wild west on the government. Not in a gun-flinging, sting-them-up kind of way.
Just as you probably applauded the revolts in other countries, you must give way to what is happening in this country right now.
Whatever side of the political battlefield you stand on, this is a ‘civil war’ of thought, morale, and belief systems. We may not be pointing guns at each other, but we are, in fact, drawing the line in the sand of what is personally acceptable and what is not.
There is a great divide in our country. To some, the Black Flag is being flown in solidarity to ensure that this country finds its roots. And might I add, it’s being used on ALL sides of the political battleground.
If you are willing to support the protests of one group, the burning of the American flag by another, and the looting and burning of our neighborhoods, then, honestly, you don’t have a leg to stand on in being upset. We, collectively, as a country, created the monster that we are now fighting.
Unfortunately, we are in a society where you must now choose a side. Faith in our government has been shattered, and a bleak road lies ahead.
I don’t know what the answer is, but at least I did my part to share with you the real history of the Black Flag. I invite you to do your own research and decide for yourself if it is anti-American or not.
The choice is yours.
Until next time, Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.
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It would be much more appropriate to fly the American flag upside down.