The old Mississippi flag flew over the state Capitol in Jackson.
The old Mississippi flag flew over the state Capitol in Jackson.

What Will Be Mississippi’s New Flag?

State officials choose five final designs for the new flag.

Every state has its own flag. Each one is a symbol of the state’s culture and history. For example, California’s flag has a grizzly bear to show the wildlife that once lived there. Oklahoma’s flag honors the state’s Native Americans with a shield and feathers. Yet Mississippi had to change its flag — because of its past.

In 1861, several states in the South wanted to leave the United States. They wanted to form their own country where slavery would stay legal. Mississippi’s leaders voted to secede in the state capital, Jackson. They would join the new country, the Confederate States. Mississippi soon adopted its first flag. It showed a magnolia tree. This flag flew during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

When the Southern states lost the war, Mississippi got rid of its flag. Then in 1894, Mississippi adopted its second flag. This one included a blue “X” with white stars on a red background. This was the Confederate battle flag. For many people, this was a symbol of slavery. They called it racist. On June 30, 2020, Mississippi got rid of that flag too.

Now Mississippi needs a new flag. Nearly 3,000 people created designs. The Mississippi Flag Commission looked at them all. On Tuesday, it announced the final five flag designs. Each one will soon fly outside the Old Mississippi State Capitol. The commission will choose the top design on September 2. Mississippi residents will then vote in November on whether to make it the official state flag.

There were a few rules for this new flag. It had to include the words “In God We Trust.” The flag also could not have any Confederate symbols.

Each of the five flag designs has a star made of diamond shapes. That is a symbol for Mississippi’s Native Americans. It is important for the Choctaw Indians and often appears on the tribe’s clothing.

Three of the new flag designs include a magnolia flower. That is the state flower of Mississippi. One flag features a magnolia tree — like the original state flag. Four flags show a group of 20 stars. That is because Mississippi was the 20th state to join the United States.

Andrea Guzzetta was the artist for flag design No. 5. She hopes people will vote to make her design the official flag for Mississippi. Yet she told News-O-Matic that any of the choices is “going to be a positive change for the state.” Changing a flag won’t change the past. However, Guzzetta called it “a good start.”

Reuben Anderson leads the Mississippi Flag Commission. He said his group is “not going to disappoint” the people of Mississippi. “We will put forth the greatest flag we can have.”

Updated August 21, 2020, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn

What Will Be Mississippi’s New Flag?

State officials choose five final designs for the new flag.

The old Mississippi flag flew over the state Capitol in Jackson.
The old Mississippi flag flew over the state Capitol in Jackson.

Every state has its own flag. Each one is a symbol of the state’s culture and history. For example, California’s flag has a grizzly bear to show the wildlife that once lived there. Oklahoma’s flag honors the state’s Native Americans with a shield and feathers. Yet Mississippi had to change its flag — because of its past.

In 1861, several states in the South wanted to leave the United States. They wanted to form their own country where slavery would stay legal. Mississippi’s leaders voted to secede in the state capital, Jackson. They would join the new country, the Confederate States. Mississippi soon adopted its first flag. It showed a magnolia tree. This flag flew during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

When the Southern states lost the war, Mississippi got rid of its flag. Then in 1894, Mississippi adopted its second flag. This one included a blue “X” with white stars on a red background. This was the Confederate battle flag. For many people, this was a symbol of slavery. They called it racist. On June 30, 2020, Mississippi got rid of that flag too.

Now Mississippi needs a new flag. Nearly 3,000 people created designs. The Mississippi Flag Commission looked at them all. On Tuesday, it announced the final five flag designs. Each one will soon fly outside the Old Mississippi State Capitol. The commission will choose the top design on September 2. Mississippi residents will then vote in November on whether to make it the official state flag.

There were a few rules for this new flag. It had to include the words “In God We Trust.” The flag also could not have any Confederate symbols.

Each of the five flag designs has a star made of diamond shapes. That is a symbol for Mississippi’s Native Americans. It is important for the Choctaw Indians and often appears on the tribe’s clothing.

Three of the new flag designs include a magnolia flower. That is the state flower of Mississippi. One flag features a magnolia tree — like the original state flag. Four flags show a group of 20 stars. That is because Mississippi was the 20th state to join the United States.

Andrea Guzzetta was the artist for flag design No. 5. She hopes people will vote to make her design the official flag for Mississippi. Yet she told News-O-Matic that any of the choices is “going to be a positive change for the state.” Changing a flag won’t change the past. However, Guzzetta called it “a good start.”

Reuben Anderson leads the Mississippi Flag Commission. He said his group is “not going to disappoint” the people of Mississippi. “We will put forth the greatest flag we can have.”

Updated August 21, 2020, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn

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