Historic Massachusetts Flag Called “Problematic”. Which New Design Would You Choose?

Massachusetts is attempting to redesign its flag, a process to be “more representative of its diversity and heritage“.

The current flag, adopted in 1908, features the problematic state seal from 1898 with a Native American figure under a sword-wielding arm, which will be replaced. The new flag is expected to be finalized after public feedback in December 2025, with potential designs from Eastern Research Group. 

Many submissions were whittled down to three. Those three flag designs feature elements like the North Atlantic right whale, turkey feathers, the mayflower, and a landscape with a blue hill and waves.

The Advisory Commission will share three flag, seal, and motto ideas for public review and comment during hearings this fall. The public will not vote on the new flag, if, indeed a new flag is adopted, but the Commission will choose.

Here is the existing Massachusetts flag:

The current flag features the state’s coat of arms, which shows a Native American figure with a downward-pointing arrow on a blue shield.

• Above the shield is a bent arm holding a broadsword aloft, a reference to winning liberty through the American Revolution.
• The motto Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem, meaning “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty,” wraps around the seal.

The Controversy:

Indigenous leaders and other critics have called for a change, arguing the imagery is racist and harmful, for these reasons:

• The placement of a broadsword above the Native American figure is seen as a symbol of violence inflicted by colonizers.
• The figure on the seal was modeled on a photo of a Great Plains Ojibwe chief, not someone from the local Algonquian nations it is meant to represent.
• The Latin motto is also seen as problematic, suggesting peace is only achieved through force. 

Finalist Designs for the New Flag 

Design 1:

A blue hill with six blue and white waves on a blue background, symbolizing the name “Massachusetts” and the state’s coast.

Design 2:

A blue background featuring the state mayflower flower, with the petals shaped to resemble the shield of the current flag.

Design 3:

A crimson background with six turkey feathers, representing the state’s history and indigenous communities.

Let us know YOUR choice!  Leave your comments and/or your reasoning, below: