Why People Fly the Black American Flag and What It Means

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Learn about its “No Quarter” meaning and actual origin

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: November 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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What does the black American flag mean?

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Why do people fly the black American flag?

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Origin of the Black American Flag

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What does the black flag emoji mean?

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Different Types of Black Flags

If you see the black American flag, it means the person flying isn’t afraid to defend themselves against a potential threat. This has led it to be known as the “No Quarter” flag, but the history behind it is a bit murky. If you want to learn about what the black American flag symbolizes, its origin, and other black flags, look no further. We'll explain it all below, along with what other black flags symbolize.

Black American Flag Meaning

The all-black American flag is most commonly associated with the “No Quarter” rule. For some, it means they aren’t hesitant to defend themselves against someone who they perceive as a threat. For others, it means if captured, they’d rather die than be taken prisoner.

Section 1 of 5:

What does the black American flag mean?

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A black American flag means the person flying it is willing to defend themselves. It has different meanings for different people and is usually flown by conservatives. For some, it means they aren’t afraid of defending themselves. For others, it means they will give no mercy to their enemies and would rather die than be taken prisoner themselves.^{[1]
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- This goes back to the No Quarter rule of the pirates, who flew black flags with a skull and crossbones when they wanted to tell other ships they would kill anyone they captured.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 5:

Why do people fly the black American flag?

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Some fly the black American flag to let other people know they aren’t afraid to defend themselves. Others fly it to tell people that they don’t hold space for perceived enemies and aren’t willing to surrender against people who threaten them.^{[3]
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Section 3 of 5:

Origin of the Black American Flag

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Black American flags were created by artist Jasper Johns. They first started popping up in the 1970s, when Johns began painting variations of the classic red, white, and blue flag.^{[4]
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Research source} They didn’t become popular until 2021 after going viral on social media.^{[5]
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Research source} Black American flags are rumored to have been flown by the Confederates in the Civil War, but that is false. They flew the “Confederate flag,” a red battle flag with a star-studded, blue diagonal cross.^{[6]
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- Historians say Confederates wouldn’t have flown Union flags. If they did capture a Union flag, it was a trophy.^{[7]
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Section 4 of 5:

What does the black flag emoji mean?

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The black flag emoji usually represents protests, rebellion, or non-conformity. You can use the black flag emoji if you’re in protest of something, if you’re feeling rebellious, or want to show that you won’t conform. You can also use it when you’re having a bad day or want to show that you’ve reached the end of your rope.^{[8]
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Research source} This goes back to the waving of black and red flags to signify the end of a race.^{[9]
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- Anarchists may use the black flag emoji to identify themselves on social media.^{[10]
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Section 5 of 5:

Different Types of Black Flags

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Black Flag The all-black flag has different meanings based on who’s flying it. For some, it represents anarchy. For others, it is meant to be the opposite of the white flag, which is the worldwide symbol for surrender.^{[11]
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Research source}It is also used in times of mourning^{[12]
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- In racing, it is used to represent an on-track infraction and tells drivers when they need to leave the track.^{[13]
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The black and white flag is often used to represent freedom, unity, and justice. It has almost exclusively been used to express political resistance and the fight for freedom, justice, and equality.^{[14]
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Jolly Roger Also known as the pirate flag, this was flown by pirates in the 18th century. It was used to tell the ship being approached to immediately surrender or else risk the execution of everyone on board.^{[15]
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- Pirates usually hoisted this flag right before approaching a ship.
- Due to the pirates’ “No Quarter” policy, the Jolly Roger has become associated with the all-black American flag.
This flag is known to represent Black power. It was designed by Marcus Garvey, a political activist, in 1920 and serves as a symbol of pride and coalition among people of African descent.^{[16]
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