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The existing flag of Albany
HISTORY
The current flag of Albany was adopted in 1909 during the tricentennial celebration of Henry Hudson discovering the Hudson River. It features the city's 1789 seal on the tri-color design of the Prince's Flag of the Netherlands. A RACIST FLAG
The Prince's Flag, which was flown by the slave-trading Dutch East India Company and became the basis for the similar-looking apartheid-era flag of South Africa, was discontinued by the Dutch in 1795. Since then, it has been co-opted by far-right white supremacist groups such as the Dutch People's Union, the Nationalist People's Movement, and the Party for Freedom. A POORLY DESIGNED FLAG
Vexillologists (flag experts) generally consider "seal on bedsheet" flags such as this to be examples of very poor design. According to the North American Vexillological Association, a good flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory, use no more than three basic colors, contain no lettering or seals, and be distinctive from other flags. The current flag fails on all these counts. THE IMPERATIVE FOR A GOOD FLAG
Pride in one's flag leads to increased pride in one's city. Citizens of cities with good flags (like Chicago and Amsterdam) fly them outside their houses and interact with them regularly. Flags are powerful symbols that promote unity and culture - why would we choose to keep one that's racist and poorly designed? |
Further Reading
TIMES UNION - "Albany Should Adopt A New Flag. Here's Why."
TIMES UNION - "Councilman Wants Reexamination of Albany Flag Once Coopted by Dutch Nazis"
TIMES UNION - "Albany Flag Among the Many Symbols of Our Racist History"
TIMES UNION - "Editorial: New Look at an Old Symbol"
NEWS 10 ABC - "Petition Aims to Replace City of Albany Flag"
CBS 6 ALBANY - "Councilman Calls for Change to Albany Flag"
TIMES UNION - "Letter: Albany Needs a New Flag"
THE ECONOMIST - "How an Old Dutch Flag Became a Racist Symbol"
CHANGE.ORG - "Take Down Albany's Racist Symbols"
NAVA - "Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag"
TIMES UNION - "Albany Should Adopt A New Flag. Here's Why."
TIMES UNION - "Councilman Wants Reexamination of Albany Flag Once Coopted by Dutch Nazis"
TIMES UNION - "Albany Flag Among the Many Symbols of Our Racist History"
TIMES UNION - "Editorial: New Look at an Old Symbol"
NEWS 10 ABC - "Petition Aims to Replace City of Albany Flag"
CBS 6 ALBANY - "Councilman Calls for Change to Albany Flag"
TIMES UNION - "Letter: Albany Needs a New Flag"
THE ECONOMIST - "How an Old Dutch Flag Became a Racist Symbol"
CHANGE.ORG - "Take Down Albany's Racist Symbols"
NAVA - "Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag"
