The difference between the black flag and other political symbols, except for the color, is the nonexistence of complicated symbols: the black flag is simply black fabric with nothing on it. It symbolizes that the time of tyranny and oppression is to be ended, and that the rebellion against the oppressive rule will not stop, its rebels will not surrender nor be merciful. The dried blood may also represent the helplessness, and in time: apathy, of people under rule, who are forced to watch their liberties, family and friends be slaughtered by the tyrant(s). It is claimed the color of black symbolizes dried blood and is therefore closely related to the bloodshed of oppressive rule or the rebellion, and the suffering, hunger, misery and death of the ruled masses. The black color and the black flag as a symbol are closely related to the misery of mankind under rule. It also represents the anarchists’ allegiance to nothing, and the plain black is therefore the total void of allegiance. The black flag supposedly “negates all borders” and symbolizes the final abolishment of the state and everything connected with its rule. The color black is a non-color or anti-color swallowing all other. Pirates were also thoroughly hated by the ruling class(es) and the pirate symbol due to these circumstances to some extent embodied the spirit of lawlessness and rebellion to the oppressive hierarchies of “society.”īut the black flag is also a symbol negating all other symbols.

Some claim it has its origin in the use of black flags by pirates, which ships were navigated over the seven seas through the work of free men and the captain usually elected and subject to instant recall. The origin of the symbol is not clear, but it was adopted and bonded to anarchism during the latter half of the 19 th century. Get a custom flag made for your business or political group.Īnarchists have used the black flag as a symbol at least since the early 1880’s.

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What does the black flag represent