| BEHIND THE SOUND BYTES: THE NEW
GEORGIA FLAG by Phillip L. Nelson |
The swift action of the Georgia legislature in late January 2001 in
adopting a new flag makes a similar initiative in Mississippi look
slothful.[1] However, the new flag initiative dates back several
years. An earlier attempt in 1993 reportedly led to Senator
(then-Governor) Zim Miller's defeat for reelection. And the success of
the initiative to adopt the new flag dates back to January 2000.[2]At the time, Georgia was faced with planned protests against the then-current state flag prior to Super Bowl XXXIV. To avoid the protests and a planned economic boycott, state representative Calvin Smyre met with Jesse Jackson and state representative Tyrone Brooks and delayed a potential boycott until the end of the 2001 legislative session. The result was House Bill 16, which would have reverted the state flag to the pre-1956 flag. (A similar bill was introduced in the state Senate, Senate Bill 20[3], introduced the day before Thanksgiving.) Prior to the issue of the flag coming to a head in the state legislature, there were signs that the state flag was being considered a liability. In mid-January, part out of respect for the concerns of the African-American community as well as concerns about an economic boycott, Best Western Savannah (Bay Street) decided to revert to the pre-1956 flag and Southern Company (parent company of Georgia Power) announced it would no longer use a state flag until the then-current one was changed. These companies joined Coca-Cola, Holiday Inn and McDonalds which abandoned the state flag around 1996.[4] When it began to appear that the House Rules Committee would abandon the return of the older flag, representative Brooks developed "a back-up plan" that would attract a broad enough coalition to assure success. The compromise, introduced in early January, featured a proposal by retired architect Cecil Alexander - a modified version of the 1879 flag with a ribbon featuring past flags.[5] Additionally, the legislation prohibited alterations to any confederate memorial or to Stone Mountain, a fear many citizens felt would be the next target.[6] Favorably reported out of committee on January 24, the bill was presented to the House of Representatives on January 25, where the bill would be amended by Representative James Mills (Republican - Hall County) adding the words "In God We Trust" below the ribbon. (Mills would vote for the amendment, but against the flag.)[7] The amendment passed 102-67; the bill passed 94-82 and sent to the Senate where it successfully enacted 34-22. In just over a week, the flag was introduced to the legislature and public and became official, averting a predicted economic boycott of the state. Early on January 31, Governor Roy Barnes signed the legislation. At 10:47 A.M. the flag was hoisted. The first physical flag was manufactured by Atlas Flags in Tucker, GA in a short time period and at a cost of $1,080. Until state agencies receive the new flag (which will take several weeks), they will fly the 1956 flag.[8] Apart from the fact the flag is considered by many vexillologists to be gauche, it is too early at this time to determine the opinion of the people of Georgia.[9] Early comments were mixed, appearing to be divided along the lines of those supporting a new flag and those opposed rather than as a means of closing a controversial part of the state's history. But one anonymous comment illustrates the defects of the flag: "That new flag looks like a souvenir from some theme park - Five Flags Under Georgia."[10] Footnotes 1. The Mississippi flag issue was referred to a commission, and has been placed on a special referendum to be decided by the voters on April 17. The voters will select from the current flag or the proposed flag. Georgians, per news reports, do not have the referenda options for certain legislative matters. 2. A good summary of the background was published as "Secret agreement a ear ago paved way for compromise," Jim Galloway, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 25, 2001 <http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/>. Much of the background presented here is abstracted is based upon this article. 3. Section 1 would have changed Code Section 50-3-1 to read "(a) The flag of the State of Georgia shall be a vertical band occupying one-third of the flag nearest to the flagstaff. The remainder of the space shall be equally divided into three horizontal bands, the upper and lower of which shall be scarlet in color and the middle of which shall be white in color. On the blue field shall be stamped, painted, or embroidered the coat of arms of the state." The 1956 flag would have been designated the "Georgia Memorial Flag," omitted in the final legislation. 4. "Businesses taking down the flag," Doug Gross, Savannah Morning News, January 11, 2001. 5. Galloway. 6. Changes that will be reflected in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 50-3-1(b)(1) through (3) and 50-3-1(c). 7. "Little-known lawmaker has big impact with motto on new state flag," Dick Pettys, Associated Press, published in Athens (GA) News, January 28, 2001 <http://www.athensonline.com/> 8. Amendments to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 45-12-83.1, in HR 16. 9. Flagwire <http://www.flagwire/> did conduct a poll on the issue with overwhelming negative results. However, this was a basic poll that should be expanded upon. 10. "Vox Populi", Savannah Morning News, January 28, 2001. <http://www.savannahnow.com/> Illustration by Andy Weir. |