A New Flag for Raleigh?

The City’s official flag was introduced in 1960, but has not been updated since and is not widely displayed by Raleigh residents.  A few years ago, the City updated its logo through a branding and marketing firm.  Since that branding process occurred without resident engagement, that logo has not been embraced by residents in a way that reflects our collective civic pride.  Instead, the logo serves mostly as the City’s “business brand.” 

Now, there’s a local effort underway to give Raleigh residents a simple way to express their civic pride.  The New Raleigh Flag initiative seeks to bring an iconic flag design to the City.  If you haven’t heard about this effort, you can catch up by checking out the project website and Instagram account.

What’s in a flag?  For many cities, flags serve as symbols of civic identity and pride.  The New Raleigh Flag project aims to bolster Raleigh’s civic pride, and ultimately, civic engagement. Started as a pandemic project, the New Flag Initiative has grown steadily over the last two years, with over a hundred homes and businesses now flying the proposed new flag.  The flag is available in local stores and on the New Raleigh Flag website.  Local merchants and artists have taken advantage of the flag’s open-source design to create flag-themed art, apparel, trinkets, and at least one mural.  Project organizers say the movement will culminate this year with an official request for Raleigh to adopt the new flag as a companion to the official flag of Raleigh.  Ideally, it will live alongside the current City flag.

The new design retains the classic red color from the 1960 flag, sporting a stylized acorn with Walter Raleigh’s coat of arms forming the acorn’s body.  It’s a simple design that departs from the clutter of the current flag, while retaining the essence of the current flag’s symbolism.  As the New Raleigh Flag website explains, flag experts stress simplicity as a key aspect of any good flag design.

With the many challenges facing the City presently, why spend time on a flag design?  Flag experts assert that strong symbolism boosts civic pride and brings a sense of belonging.  New Raleigh Flag proponents argue that a strong symbol of shared identity can produce a “rallying” effect, making it easier for people to set aside differences and work together to tackle the tough issues we face as a community.  

Will the movement succeed?  The question may soon be up to the City Council.  Since flag experts published guidelines for good flag design about a decade ago, many cities have adopted simpler, stylish new flags.  This leaves supporters of the new flag asking, “Why not Raleigh?”  An official pitch seems imminent.

To offer feedback on the New Raleigh Flag project or to get involved with the initiative, e-mail project organizers at info@newraleighflag.com.