![]() ![]() How can an early symbol of American identity be considered racist?Īny knowledge of American history and identity can tell you it was not formed under principles of racial equity. Having gone over its history, some may ask how anyone could claim this flag is racist if its origins are so firmly rooted in the American Revolution. Christopher Gadsden, who was on the Marine Committee. The Gadsden flag can be traced back to 1775, when newly enlisted marines marched carrying drums painted with coiled rattlesnakes, 13 rattles and the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.” It was named after South Carolina Continental Army Col. The snake represented the colonies, and the image is considered the first satirical cartoon in an American newspaper. One of its earliest iterations comes from Benjamin Franklin, who published an image of a snake cut in eight sections captioned “Join, or Die” in 1754. ![]() ![]() The rattlesnake has long been a symbol of American identity. But due to the fact not many people are aware of this flag’s history and modern connotations, it is worth briefly going over. It bears mentioning that an object’s historical origins cannot contradict any modern interpretations or associations it has gathered. It is disgusting to see our administration - not just some random individual living on campus - display the flag so flagrantly. If you are unfamiliar with it, the flag depicts a snake wrapped in a coil, with the words “Don’t Tread on Me” boldly printed on the bottom. Right beneath it, billowing proudly in the breeze, is the Gadsden flag. Right outside of Marciano Commons, near the ROTC headquarters, hangs an American flag. ![]()
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