Today, the Flag of Mississippi features a white magnolia blossom and the words "In God We Trust" on a red field with a gold-bordered blue pale. As many of us know, this wasn’t the official state flag until just recently. On January 11, 2021, Mississippi State Legislature passed a bill saying this flag will replace the previous one that has flown for nearly 130 years.

There are many layers that have led to this decision and many conversations around it, but let's take a moment to break down some of the historical facts as to why this change happened, the process of how it happened, and what it means for Mississippi’s history and future.

What Led To The Decision of Changing the Mississippi Flag?

There have actually been 3 flags that have flown over the state. The first flag, known as the "Magnolia Flag", was adopted in 1861 but was soon declared to be "null and void" in 1865. This left the state without an official flag for over 30 years until the second one was adopted in 1894.

The second flag, the one that most are familiar with, consisted of a triband of three equal horizontal stripes of blue, white, and red, with the canton of the Confederate battle flag in the top left hand corner. The 13 stars were officially said to represent the original number of states in the Union but soon came to represent something more.

Because of the racial history between the Union and the Confederate, the symbolism attached to the Confederate battle flag has caused many to question the integrity of the Mississippi flag, especially in these modern times.

However, it was decades of questioning and failed attempts to change it, before the state finally decided that it was time for a change.

Flag Referendums

2001: In April of 2001, a Mississippi flag referendum appeared on a special election ballot, an election specifically to decide if a new flag design was needed and a choice of 2 flag designs was given -- the current flag at the time and a new design. As we know today, the decision was to keep the 1894 design.

2020: Jump nearly 2 decades, another referendum appeared on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot. However, this time, voters were asked whether the proposed new design, which does not contain the Confederate battle flag, should be officially adopted by voting a simple yes or no. The referendum passed on November 3, 2020.

What Does This Mean Moving Forward?

Today, the 1894 flag is officially retired and is kept for historical purposes. The new law required a ceremony for the “prompt, dignified, and respectful removal” of the flag. Now you can find it in The Museum of Mississippi History, near the Capitol, where it will remain as a piece of history while the world continues to evolve.