IN SUPPORT OF A RECONSIDERATION OF THE SEAL, MOTTO, & FLAG OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS A timeline detailing the story of the Mississippi flag, from Confederate imagery to voter-approved redesign, is one part of a multi-faceted research and design initiative produced by the Community Design Studio at Lesley University College of Art and Design in partnership with Senator Jason Lewis, the North American Indian Center of Boston, and Mass Humanities. HOIST Introduction In the midst of a challenging time when BIPOC communities are among the most deeply impacted by increasing socio-economic, cultural, and health disparities, the Community Design Studio at Lesley University College of Art and Design (Lesley Art + Design) has responded by pairing a team of design students with legislative staff, historians, and Native leaders to support the reconsideration of the seal, motto, and flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. How does design harm or heal communities? How can design help forge a path forward?* Jean-Luc Pierite These are some of the questions that the Community Design Studio has addressed in its approach to the current Massachusetts seal, whose composite design includes the head of Thomas Little Shell, a Chippewa Chief from Montana; the body proportions derived from the excavated bones from an archaeological dig in Winthrop; and the sash of Native leader Metacomet (King Philip) whose severed head was displayed by British colonizers as a war trophy in Plymouth for twenty years. The design, as indi- cated by Jean-Luc Pierite, Board President of the North American Indian Center of Mississippi Boston (NAICOB), “is evocative of the intergenerational trauma and colonial violence which our communities have endured for the past 400 years.” The symbolism itself Raquel Halsey continuing to harm the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With PRECEDENT Pierite, Raquel Halsey, Executive Director of NAICOB, further emphasizes that since 1984, former Representative Byron Rushing, with the support of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs, has repeatedly introduced legislation to recommend changes to the seal, motto, and flag. For more than thirty-four years bi-annually, this legislation, that aims to change the flag’s offensive and scarring symbolism of the his- torical oppression of Native people, has been stalled in committees and not passed. The story of the Mississippi State flag, from harmful Confederate imagery to voter- approved redesign, provides a precedent for Massachusetts and symbolizes the potential for a positive and more unified future. The annotated timeline presented in this document offers a chronological overview of the State of Mississippi’s process to update their flag while highlighting some of the key voices and opinions that both challenged and contributed to their success. By acknowledging, listening to, and repeatedly consulting the expertise of Native partners, advisors, and members of our own studio, the Community Design Studio offers a path forward for a process that allows for undoing and healing** and outcomes that reconcile the symbols of a hurtful colonial past with the cultural, political, envi- ronmental, and social priorities of Native communities in the present and future. * Joseph Kunkel, Executive Director, Sustainable Native CLICK HERE / Listen to a statement Community Collaborative, MASS Design Group, from Jean-Luc Pierite, President of Obama Foundation Fellow the Board, North American Indian ** Governor Brian Vallo, Pueblo of Acoma Center of Boston (NAICOB) OVERVIEW / Timeline ORIGINS INFLECTION POINT / Protest INFLECTION POINT / Referendum INFLECTION POINT / Violence 1861–2020 1861 1982 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993 2000 2014 2015 2017 — “Magnolia Flag” created — Early protest against carrying the flag — Bills to change flag proposed and rejected — A commission was founded to — “Hospitality Flag” created — Charleston Church Massacre occurred — Bicentennial flag created by the reconsider the flag design — House Speaker Gunn pushed for removal Mississippi Economic Council 1894 1983 of Confederate symbols — Flag with Confederate symbols adopted — University of Mississippi bans use of flag 2001 2019 — Governor Musgrove urged placing options — Vanity license plate with “Hospitality 1906 (no change vs. alternative) on the ballot Flag” introduced — Flag adoption inadvertently repealed — The referendum to change the flag failed “I will agree that this is a government “Black students on campus view the Governor William Winter “We must always remember our past, PRECEDENT / by the people and for the people, but flag as a racist symbol, and I personally but that does not mean we must let it what people? When this declaration was cannot separate it from the Klan and define us. I believe our state’s flag has STEPS & made by our forefathers, it was for the what they stand for.” become a point of offense that needs to Anglo-Saxon people. That is what we are be removed.” —Lydia Spragin, President of the University here for today—to secure the supremacy of Mississippi’s Black Student Union —Philip Gunn, Mississippi House Speaker MISSTEPS of the white race.” “For too long, we were blind to the pain —J. H. McGehee, Mississippi senator; that the Confederate flag stirred in many from his speech at the state Constitutional of our citizens. For many, black and Convention, 1890 white, that flag was a reminder of sys- temic oppression and racial subjugation. We see that now.” —Barack Obama, U.S. President IN DEPTH / Timeline 1861–2020 1988/ 2000/ 2015/ 2017/ The state Supreme Court ruled the June 17 A flag was created by the Mississippi inclusion of Confederate symbols in the The Charleston Church Massacre took Economic Council to celebrate the state’s 1990/ flag did not violate any constitutionally- place at the Emanuel African Methodist bicentennial and thereafter it joined the protected rights, but the court also found Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, list of flags suggested to replace the 1992/ that the state flag requirements were not South Carolina. Dylann Storm Roof, who controversial state flag. codified in law and thus Mississippi did posed for photographs with the Confeder- not have an official state flag. ate flag, murdered nine people. 1993/ Prompted by the decision, a nine-member June 22 2019/ Bills were introduced to replace the commission, led by the former Governor Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn April 17 1861/ 1982/ state flag and were rejected. William Winter and businessman Jack 2014/ stated the Confederate emblem in the Seen by some as a subtle move toward March 30 John Hawkins, The University of Missis- Reed, was founded. An alternate flag was created by Laurin state’s flag should go. It was the first time more significant change, Governor Phil an elected Mississippi Republican official Bryant signed a bill that introduced a The original “Magnolia Flag” was adopted sippi’s first Black cheerleader, refused The commission held five public hearings Stennis and flown unofficially by busi- called for its removal publicly. novelty license plate that featured the and the “Ordinances and Resolutions” in to carry the state flag at Ole Miss 1993/ across the state that exposed deeply nesses and citizens. Known by several the Journal of the Convention described: sporting events, as was traditional. names, it was commonly referred to as Hospitality Flag. More than 300 were July 6 divided opinions. June 26 ”A Flag of white ground, a Magnolia tree the “Hospitality Flag.” Though her flag pre-ordered. October 23 The Mississippi chapter of the NAACP President Barack Obama offered a eulogy in the centre, a blue field in the upper The commission recommended to the design was popular, Stennis stepped back A group of Ku Klux Klan members rallied filed a lawsuit to prohibit display of the for the Reverend Clementa Pinckney of left hand corner with a white star in the legislature that a choice between the from the effort to change the 1894 flag before a crowd of 450 to support the state flag. The lawsuit alleged that the Mother Emanuel in which he called for centre, the Flag to be finished with a red 1894 flag and an alternative (shown due, in part, to the painful segregationist continued use of the Confederate flag at use of Confederate symbols in the state the removal of the Confederate battle flag. border and a red fringe at the extremity above) be placed on the ballot, a position record of her grandfather, the late U.S. Ole Miss. One speaker said the Rebel flag flag violated the plaintiff’s constitutional of the Flag.” Governor Ronnie Musgrove supported. Senator John C. Stennis. June 27 must be defended because “It is more rights to free speech, due process, and In a high-profile gesture, activist Bree sacred than anything else in the South. equal protection. Newsome climbed atop the South Caroli- 1894/ Destroy it and the American flag will 2001/ na State House flagpole and removed the soon go.” Confederate flag. She was arrested and February 7 April 17 the flag was replaced. The Mississippi Legislature adopted a More Mississippians went to the polls replacement to the Civil War era flag that 1983/ than in a previous gubernatorial election. July 9 included the Confederate battle flag in its 64% of referendum voters supported South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley April 21 canton (shown in the next column). The continued use of the 1894 flag. signed legislation to remove Confederate Chancellor Porter L. Fortune Jr. banned design, with minor adjustments, was offi- flags from official sites. Alabama Gov- the official use of the Confederate flag Notes: cially recognized by the state until 2020. ernor Robert Bentley had ordered them as a University of Mississippi symbol. • Co-chair Jack Reed’s department store was boycotted. lowered in the state two week earlier. • Musgrove later said that putting 1906/ the flag on the ballot was a mistake. Legislation inadvertently repealed the Georgia reduced the size of Confeder- adoption of the 1894 flag.