Ushering in the Future Through Fabric

A wave of new U.S. flags has opened a discussion into how a rectangle can transform a community’s identity.

National attention has been placed on state flags ever since the Confederacy was removed from the physical cloth of Mississippi. However, the stains of the past are still embroidered into much of the fabric of the United States– with several states considering an updated flag that better represents the cultural shifts they seek to reflect with these changes. 

In order to understand the recent movement in favor of updated state flags, we must look– not only to headline grabbing Minnesota– but to Illinois as well. There are many flags that are either overtly racist or more broadly represent a group of people who are vastly disconnected by history from the lives of current residents. 

Minnesota has replaced their flag— which was unveiled in 1893— with a more unifying design because the former flag depicted a supposedly peaceful relationship between a Native American and a European settler. Indigenous Minnesotans led the fight to retire the flag. 

The Minnesota flag that is being transitioned out because of its historically inaccurate design of a Native American and a European settler living in peace. (Photo Courtesy of the New York Post)

Opponents of the flag switch in the Minnesota Legislature, however, are worried that this demonstration of political correctness is opening up their constituents’ pocket books. “Minnesotans are ultimately going to pay for this change with their tax dollars,” says Republican Minnesota State Senator Jordan Rasmusson.

The committee of flag experts– the State Emblems Redesign Commission– in December of 2023 decided on a blue and white design featuring the North Star, as Minnesota is the location of the northernmost point of the Contiguous United States. However, some Minnesotans feel as though the Minnesota Legislature– people who were actually elected by the people– should have been more involved with the process, instead of delegating everything to their proxies. 

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have a process where we could have gotten a greater consensus. We are now left with a flag that many Minnesotans cannot get behind… If Democrats are so excited about the new flag, they should bring it up for a vote in the Minnesota Legislature this coming session,” Rasmusson said.

Ambiguity continues as to whether the new flag has garnered widespread support because CBS Minnesota entitled an article “Minnesota’s new flag gets ‘A+’ for design, expert says” but the ‘expert’ they are referring to is Ted Kaye– the Secretary of the Redesign Commission. 

The new design of the Minnesota state flag contains the North Star.(Photo Courtesy of the New York Post)

Even if Minnesotans are dissatisfied with the new flag, proponents of the North Star design reference the now-iconic maple leaf on the Canadian Flag and the backlash it faced when it was rolled out in the 1960s.

Inspired by the recent flag switch in Minnesota, the Illinois Flag Commission has been established with the objective to pick ten or fewer designs and report their findings to the Illinois General Assembly by the end of 2024. “It all started in 2019 when I was talking to two high school students about the Illinois state flag and they emphasized that it is not iconic,” says Illinois Congressman Daniel Didech.

The state flag of Illinois, flying in Springfield.  (Photo Courtesy of Chicago Tribune)

Illinois’ current flag is very cluttered with dates and the state motto– State Sovereignty, National Union, a common phrase, borrowed from the Constitution of the United States.

“We are envious of the iconic nature of California’s state flag. The Commission will work this year and I hope that they can present the new flag selection in the 2025 Session of the General Assembly down in Springfield. However, it is unpredictable,” Didech said.

At its heart, a reimagined state flag allows for a visual sense that the community has been reinvented. 

“Now– with the trend of new state flags– Illinois has a lot to be proud of and our flag should represent that. Illinois has emerged from an era of not passing budgets [The Illinois Budget Impasse of 2015-2017] and scandals. A positive way forward full of excitement is being ushered in so a new flag would be a perfect addition at this time,” Didech said.

Indeed, Diedrich’s pride extends beyond the state symbol he seeks to change.

“We are proud of the immense diversity of Illinois, the booming metropolis of Chicago, and the agriculture industry. We want a symbol that encapsulates the lovely Illinois,” Didech said.

‘Diversity’ of thought has led sponsors of the Illinois Commission such as Didech to ensure that Republican, Democratic, and non-partisan officials are able to all appoint members of the body. This approach– Democrats in Illinois hope– will reassure Illinoisans that the process is bipartisan, so that the Illinois equivalent of a “Rasmusson” does not start writing op-eds against the flag.

Across political party lines, there is a worry that capital and time are being siphoned to a new state flag when there are many vital issues that deserve resources.

“The cost is negligible as the old flag would be phased out slowly,” Didech said, adding that “Illinois can multitask and there are a lot of us in the General Assembly so we can divide and conquer.”