In Detroit, the contrast in how citizens relate to the American flag is striking. Jerry Esters, a 64-year-old retired automaker employee, maintains three flags at his home, viewing them as symbols of the opportunities he secured as a descendant of enslaved people. Conversely, 79-year-old Yvonne Pistochini refuses to display the flag, arguing that the nation it represents today does not align with the country she remembers from her youth. These divided perspectives are central to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, conducted between April 16-20 with 2,596 participants.
The findings indicate that display habits are closely tied to political affiliation, age, and race. Older white Americans and Republicans are notably more likely to display the flag, while younger Democrats and Black adults report lower levels of participation. Only about 3 in 10 Black adults say they ever display the flag, compared to roughly half of white and Hispanic adults. Among Democrats and independents, about 6 in 10 report they never fly the U.S. flag, a figure that climbs to 75% for Democrats under the age of 45.
Experts suggest the flag has become a complex symbol. Dartmouth College history professor Matthew Delmont notes that many Black Americans perceive the flag as both a symbol of inclusion and exclusion, with some feeling it is used to define a version of patriotism that implies they do not belong. Allison Wiltz, founder of Writers and Editors of Color, describes it as a painful reminder of how the country has historically failed to live up to its ideals for people of color.
For supporters, however, the flag remains an essential representation of freedom. Nancy Hansen, a 73-year-old resident of Culvertson, Montana, views it as a symbol of the liberty to travel and raise children, while Linda and Greg Cunningham of Pontiac, Michigan, emphasize that for them, the flag represents the overarching concept of American freedom, independent of political debates. Paul Walthour, a 71-year-old from Minnesota, continues to display the flag at his cabin, even as he acknowledges that the symbol has increasingly become a point of political division rather than unity.
Overall, 47% of survey respondents view the flag as a unifying symbol, 16% see it as divisive, and 36% believe it is neither. The divide is particularly sharp when comparing racial groups, with 55% of white adults viewing it as unifying compared to only 22% of Black adults. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, these figures underscore the varying ways Americans interpret history, patriotism, and the meaning behind the Stars and Stripes.
