The American People Series #18: The Flag is Bleeding 1967

"The American People Series #18: The Flag is Bleeding" (1967) by Faith Ringgold is a powerful and controversial artwork that critiques the realities of racial injustice in America. It features a large American flag with the outlines of three individuals positioned in front of it. The figure on the left, a Black man, is partially obscured by the field of stars and is holding a knife in his right hand, symbolizing the violence and oppression faced by Black Americans. The other figures are partially obscured by the red stripes of the flag, suggesting the way in which all Americans, regardless of race, are affected by systemic racism. The title and the use of blood imagery further emphasize the painful and persistent struggle for equality in the United States.