A recent survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that Americans’ views of the American flag are divided by politics, age, and race. The survey, which polled 2,596 adults, revealed that Republicans and older, white adults are more likely to display the flag, while younger Democrats and Black adults are less likely to do so.

Divided Views

According to the survey, about half of U.S. adults display the flag at home throughout most of the year or during holidays. However, about 6 in 10 Democrats and independents say they never fly the U.S. flag, including 75% of Democrats under 45. In contrast, about 7 in 10 Republicans and 6 in 10 Americans ages 60 and older fly the flag at least during holidays.

For some, the flag represents freedom and patriotism. Nancy Hansen, a 73-year-old retired Customs and Border Protection clerk, believes that flying the flag is a way to show love for the country. “You have to be for the country, no matter what,” she said. “The flag means freedom.” However, others see the flag as a symbol of division and exclusion. Yvonne Pistochini, a 79-year-old Black woman, said she would never fly the flag because it does not represent the America she believes in.

Racial Divide

The survey also found a significant racial divide in views of the flag. Only about 3 in 10 Black adults say they ever display the American flag, compared with about half of white and Hispanic adults. Matthew Delmont, a professor of American history at Dartmouth College, noted that many Black Americans see the flag as a symbol of both inclusion and exclusion. “Black Americans, more so than white Americans, also understand that the flag can be used to justify a version of patriotism that is rooted in exclusion,” he said.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.