“Show Me the Race or the Nation without a Flag, and I Will Show You a Race of People without Any Pride”: The Flags of Black Nationalist Organizations as Disambiguating Responses to Polysemic National Symbols

Abstract

The leader of the Blackville Club arose last Labor night, And said, “When we were on parade today, I really felt so much ashamed, I wished I could turn white ’Cause all the white folks march’d with banners gay; Just at de stand, de German Band, They waved their flag and played ‘De Wacht am Rhine,’ The Scotch Brigade, each man arrayed In new plaid dresses marched to ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ Even Spaniards and Sweeds, folks of all kinds and creeds, Had their banners except de coons alone; Ev’ry nation can brag ’bout some kind of a flag, Why can’t we get an emblem of our own? For Ireland has her Harp and Shamrock, England floats her Lion bold, Even China waves a Dragon,