Is Reclaiming The American Flag Important?

“I am so hip even my errors are correct.”― Nikki Giovanni

For years amid the rising news coverage of police brutality and injustice we have seen or felt rather the decrease in patriotism especially in regard to the American flag. George Floyd, Sandra Bland , and Trayvon Martin  really put a strain on the relationship black people had with America and begged few to question, where does my true heritage lie? Do we pledge allegiance at school? At sports events? Do we wear flag regalia on the Fourth Of July? Do we even celebrate?  How can we as Black/ African American/ African individuals living in the states have any kind of pride in a place that has benefited from our suffering and continues to hold no one accountable for the blood clearly on their hands? The release of Cowboy Carter caused further discussions amongst people in communities across America. Many people agree, many people don't. How can you release "Formation"  and  "Black Is King", and then turn around and put out a country album and slap on cowboy hats and American flags? In the end I can understand both arguments but, I can appreciate the move Beyonce so boldly made putting herself in the very flag as she takes the stage across the world, in the very country that oppresses her work, her message, as well as people who look like her. She took the flag back and reclaimed what being an American means and looks like. Her constantly having this flag plastered on everything in this era where she's tackling the country genre, one that stemmed from the blues created in black communities in the late 1800s- Early 1900s in America is a statement that goes without saying. You cannot erase me. If we look at music from the 50s, some black music groups would record music and then labels would slap white music groups on the front whitewashing culture, music & the genres they claimed. Elvis's "Groundhog" is an example. Jazz started in the social scenes and the streets in black and brown communities across the span of time in the 1900's, today it has been so codified and white washed that when we talk about its history, pioneers like Jack Cole aren't even mentioned or recognized. The American flag in relation with Cowboy Carter and her recent brand deals with companies like "Verizon" and "Levi" has been groundbreaking for the defining of what being an American in 2025 can look like. Don't let them silence you. Don't let them erase you. We Matter.