US Flag Display Divide
New AP-NORC Poll Reveals Most Black Americans Do Not Fly the American Flag
Most Black Americans never fly the American flag — and a new poll explains why. The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research surveyed 2,596 adults from April 16–20, 2026, and found that only about 3 in 10 Black adults ever display the flag, compared to roughly 5 in 10 white and Hispanic adults, according to AP-NORC.
The findings land just days before the nation's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026 — a moment meant to celebrate national unity. Instead, the poll reveals a country deeply divided over what its most iconic symbol actually means.
Black Americans See a Flag That Has Not Included Them
For many Black Americans, the flag carries a painful history. Matthew Delmont, a history professor at Dartmouth College, told AP that "Black Americans, more so than white Americans, understand the flag can be used to justify a version of patriotism that is rooted in exclusion." He added that the flag has been used to say "you don't belong here."
The poll backs that up. Some 73% of Black adults say their race or ethnicity is extremely important to their identity. Only 22% of white adults say the same. Yvonne Pistochini, a 79-year-old Black Detroit resident, told AP she refuses to fly the flag under any circumstances. "The America identified by the flag is not the same country she saw growing up," she said.
Republicans and Older White Adults Fly the Flag Most
The split runs sharply along political and age lines, according to AP-NORC. About 7 in 10 Republicans fly the flag at least during holidays. Among Americans age 60 and older, that number is 6 in 10. These groups are most likely to see the flag as a unifying symbol — not a political one.
Democrats and independents tell a very different story. About 6 in 10 say they never fly the flag. Among Democrats under 45, that number jumps to 75%, according to WRAL. Experts say younger Americans are shifting toward a "civic patriotism" built on values — not symbols like the flag.
The Flag's Meaning Has Shifted Since 2020
Researchers say the flag has taken on new political weight in recent years. Since the 2020 protests and during the Trump presidency, the flag has appeared more often alongside militia groups and partisan movements, according to AP. That has changed how many minority Americans read the symbol.
Jerry Esters, a Black Detroit resident and descendant of enslaved people, still flies the flag every day. "For me, the flag represents the opportunities that allowed the great-great-grandson of slaves to find success and flourish," he told AP. But his view is increasingly rare among Black Americans, the poll shows.
Falling Pride in Democracy Makes the Divide Worse
The flag poll comes alongside a broader collapse in national confidence. Pride in U.S. democracy fell from 42% in 2017 to just 28% in 2026, according to AP-NORC. Only 33% of Americans still believe the American Dream exists — down from 34% in 2024. And 50% say it was once true but is no longer.
Vincent Harris, a 60-year-old Black man from California, told AP that racial identity shapes his daily life more than national pride. "People don't even take you for who you are as a person; they just look at your race," he said. For millions of Americans, that experience makes the flag feel like someone else's symbol.
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