Grammy winner wants to scrap American Flag for Juneteenth Holiday: ‘it is tattered, dated, divisive, and incorrect’
Singer Macy Gray wants to replace the American Flag in honor of the newly declared Juneteenth holiday, saying the flag is “tattered, dated, divisive, and incorrect.”
“President Biden, Madame Harris and members of Congress: the American flag has been hijacked as code for a specific belief. God bless those believers, they can have it. Like the Confederate, it is tattered, dated, divisive, and incorrect,” she wrote.
“It no longer represents democracy and freedom. It no longer represents ALL of us. It’s not fair to be forced to honor it. It’s time for a new flag.”
Gray’s op-ed appeared the same day President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. She went on to say the nation’s new flag should include 52 stars, with a new pair representing Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
“Let’s look to the stars. There are 50, where there should be 52. D.C. and Puerto Rico have been lobbying for statehood for decades. Both have been denied, since statehood would allow each territory’s elected officials seats in the house,” she continued.
“Assuming D.C. reps would be African-American and Puerto Rican reps would be Hispanic, the ultimate assumption is that these elected officials would be Democratic. That alone is racist,” she added.
Gray argued the color of the stripes should not be “white,” which originally was chosen to represent “purity,” but rather off-white because America “ain’t” pure, she says.
“America is great,” she wrote. “It is beautiful. Pure, it ain’t. It is broken and in pieces.” She added that the stars should be changed from all-white to representing the “colors of ALL of us — your skin tone and mine.”
“In 1959, 17-year-old Bob Heft designed the current flag for a school project when there were only 48 states,” Gray asserts. “Hawaii and Alaska were up for statehood and Bob had a hunch they’d get the nod. He crafted a NEW flag with 50 stars for the then-future, because things had changed.”
“Sixty-two years later, in 2021, we have changed and it’s time for a reset, a transformation. One that represents all states and all of us,” she concludes.
Reaction to her article calling for a new national flag was met with heavy criticism.
“Not changing the flag because some celebrity opinion. What the flag means and stands for has never changed. The failure of the people in this country to live up to it’s meaning is the change that needs to happen,” one Twitter user wrote.
“Hey @MacyGraysLife, I don’t like to brag, but we’re kinda proud of that ragged old flag,” said the former attorney for President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign Jenna Ellis.
“We will not being replacing the American flag @MacyGraysLife. If you hate our flag that much then you should really consider leaving and trying to find a better country. You won’t find a better one but maybe you’ll come back grateful to be American,” wrote congressional candidate Robby Starbuck.
“Absolutely not. Hard pass. It will proudly be presented on the front of my home until the day I perish. And I will continue to uphold the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for which it stands for ALL people,” wrote another.
“As a ‘financial’ new outlet it’s embarrassing this would get published……..” said another.
Another user pointed out the various times throughout history the flag has been updated.
“Everybody’s all mad that Macy Gray says the US should get a new flag. We have redesigned our flag before. Or have we all forgotten…?”