In Detroit, Jerry Esters proudly flies the American flag outside his home each day. Yvonne Pistochini, living just a few miles away, wouldn’t display it. Both individuals identify as Black.
For Esters, the flag symbolizes the opportunities that enabled him, the great-great-grandson of slaves, to achieve success. Contrarily, 79-year-old Pistochini perceives the flag as misaligned with the America she grew up in.
A survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals Americans’ views on “Old Glory” are shaped by politics, age, and race. Esters, standing proudly outside his Detroit home in front of the American flag, reflects one side of these differing perspectives.
The study indicates Republicans and older white adults are more likely to display the American flag. Younger Democrats and Black adults are less inclined to do so. Opinions about the flag align with broader divisions in how Americans perceive their country’s history and achievements.
“Many Black Americans view the flag as a symbol of both inclusion and exclusion,” said Matthew Delmont, an American history professor at Dartmouth College. “Black Americans, more than white Americans, recognize the flag can advocate a version of patriotism rooted in exclusion, used to signal ‘you don’t belong here.’”
Conducted from April 16-20, the survey involved 2,596 adults. It suggests older white Americans, especially Republicans, see the flag as a unifying symbol. About half of all U.S. adults display the flag at home, either year-round or during holidays. Approximately 70% of Republicans and 60% of those aged 60 and up fly it at least during holidays. Conversely, 60% of Democrats and independents report they “never” fly the flag, with 75% of Democrats under 45 included in this group.
Jerry Esters, a 64-year-old retired clay sculptor, flies three American flags at his home in Detroit. He explains, “When these homes were built, Black individuals like myself couldn’t purchase them. That’s part of why I fly the flag. We’ve fought hard to own nice homes.” His great-great-grandmother Moriah Martin, born into slavery, inspires him. “I’m fulfilling her dreams—owning a business, having a nice home. This is the American way, but we have to fight for it.” The survey found Esters is in the minority among Black adults, with only three in ten ever displaying the flag compared to half of white and Hispanic adults.
Pistochini criticizes the link between flying the flag and patriotism. She highlights political divisions and inequality, saying, “Flying a flag doesn’t make you a patriot. True patriotism wouldn’t coexist with our current issues.”
Ben Gaskins, a political science chair at Lewis & Clark College, discusses the flag’s significance for many Americans: “It’s central for older, white, conservative individuals.” Another perspective comes from Nancy Hansen, a 73-year-old retired clerk from Montana, who associates the flag with freedom: “Freedom to live, travel, raise our kids as we choose.” Each year, the American Legion places flags outside businesses and homes in her community.
Linda and Greg Cunningham of Pontiac, Michigan, identify the flag with freedom. The couple, who are white and conservative, decorate their home extensively in red, white, and blue. Linda explains, “It’s not political. It’s about our freedom and love for America, despite current global events.”
The survey shows that 47% view the flag as a “more unifying” symbol, while 16% find it “more divisive,” and 36% see it as neither. Among Black adults, 22% see it as unifying, compared to 55% of white and 42% of Hispanic adults.
Allison Wiltz, a Black author, describes the flag as a “painful symbol, reminding us of what America could be.” Paul Walthour, a white retired creative director, flies the flag on special occasions. He perceives it as symbolizing American pride but acknowledges it can divide more than unite across political lines.
This AP-NORC survey was conducted using NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, representing the U.S. population with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
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