The American Flag

The American flag carries multiple meanings across generations and cultures of people, a symbol of complex histories, representing the ideals of liberty, as well as the horrors of oppression. This volume explores both ideas. While some images celebrate the nuances of patriotism and the pride of national identities, others reflect a different portrait of America that disrupts the myths and ideals of Americanism with the evidence of sombre realities. The book presents photographs that date from the Civil War to the present day and include photographers ranging from Gordon Parks, Sheila Pree Bright, and Anthony Barboza to Maurice Sorrell, Platon, and civil rights photographer James Karales.