Anarchist symbolism
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This article discusses various anarchist symbols, including the circle-A and the black flag.
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[edit] Circle-A
[edit] Description
The anarchy symbol that most people are familiar with is Ⓐ. This monogram consists of the capital letter "A" surrounded by a circle. The word for "anarchy" or "anarchism" starts with "A" in Roman script, making this an internationally recognizable symbol in Western Europe and its former colonies. Some people suggest that the circle is symbolic of unity. The circle is also symbolic of organization. Many anarchist groups benefit from a feeling of solidarity with other groups, though they may be separated geographically and by differing views on anarchy.
The "A" has an additional symbolic meaning in Italian: autogestione (literally self-management), meaning self-determination. This refers to the radical action of factory workers taking control of their factories, running them democratically without a boss. Anarchist movements are often associated with unions.
This character can be written as Unicode codepoint U+24B6. In addition, the "@" sign or "(A)" can be used to quickly represent the circle-A on a computer.
[edit] Pre-Anarchist usage
An early occasion when the encircled A was used was in Stephan Michelspacher book Spiegel der Kunst und Natur (The Mirror of Art and Nature) which was published in Augsburg 1615. This was an Alchemical work stongly influenced by Agrippa's view of the Kabbalah and magic. Adam McLean describes the centre panel as "two circular diagrams with the German GOTT (the name of God) around the outside, and also the Alpha and Omega @ and the monograph which may be the name of God, Agla. This represents the beginning - alpha - within the end - omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. This relates to the claim related in the Book of Revelations that Jesus was "the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (22.13). Many Anarchists have been freemasons and rosicrucian imagery of this type was used by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The Anarchist (and police spy) Theodor Reuss was associated with William Wynn Westcott, one of the founders of the Golden Dawn, before setting up the Ordo Templi Orientis. Two offshoots of this - Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis and Aleister Crowley's Thelema used the formulation "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law", which many have taken up as an anarchist slogan.
[edit] History of Anarchist usage
The first recorded use of the A in a circle by anarchists was by the Federal Council of Spain of the International Workingmen's Association. This was set up by the freemason, Giuseppe Fanelli in 1868. It predates its adoption by anarchists as it was used as an occult symbol by freemasons amongst others.
It was later used in the Spanish Civil War,(1936–1939). There is a picture of an anarchist militia member with the circle-A painted clearly on the back of his helmet. It was adopted as a symbol of the Alliance Ouvrière Anarchiste (AOA) as its symbol at its 25 November 1956 founding in Brussels, and appears to have been independently reinvented in 1964 by the French group, Jeunesse Libertaire ("Libertarian Youth"). [1]
Obviously, the circle-A long predates the anarcho-punk movement, which was part of the punk rock movement of the late 1970s. However, the punk movement certainly spread the circle-A anarchy symbol more widely, even among non-anarchists.
[edit] Black flag
[edit] Description
The color black has been associated with anarchy since the 1880s. Many anarchist groups contain the word "black" in their names. There have been a number of anarchist periodicals titled Black Flag.
The uniform blackness of this flag is a representative of the negation of all oppressive structures. A plain black flag is almost an anti-flag (colourful flags being the usual symbols for nation states). Additionally, a white flag is the universal symbol for surrender to superior force — thus a black flag can be viewed as the polar opposite of surrender. Others have suggested that the black flag symbolises mourning for those martyred in the course of the struggle.
The black flag is also carried by Shiah muslims.
[edit] History
Many anarchist theories are adopted and modified versions of the central tenets of socialism, whose symbol is a red flag. As anarchism began to distinguish itself from socialism in the 1880s, it simultaneously adopted the black flag as its symbol to differentiate it from other socialist currents. It should be noted, however, that anarchism is not a direct descendant of socialism. Anarchism did not spring from any one source.
Regardless of the exact origins of anarchism, it is a fact that the color black became associated with anarchism starting in the 1880s, as a sign of mourning for the Paris Commune. The French anarchist paper, Le Drapeau Noir ("The Black Flag"), which existed until 1882, is one of the first published references to use black as an anarchist color. Black International was the name of a London anarchist group founded in July 1881.
In the Russian Revolution of 1917, Nestor Makhno's anarchist forces were known collectively as the Black Army. They fought under a black flag with some success until they were crushed by the Red Army (see Black Guards). Emiliano Zapata, a Mexican revolutionary in the 1910s, used a black flag with a skull and crossbones and the Blessed Virgin Mary on it. The flag's slogan was "Tierra y Libertad" ("Land and Liberty"). In 1925, Japanese anarchists formed the Black Youth League, which had branches in the then-colonial Taiwan. In 1945, the group named their journal Kurohata ("Black Flag").
More recently, Parisian students carried black (and red) flags during the massive General Strike of May 1968. In the same year, these flags were seen at the American Students for a Democratic Society national convention. Also at about the same time, the British based journal Black Flag was started, and is still in existence today. Black flags remain a symbol of anarchists today.
Ironically, the color black is as much asscoiated with Fascism as it is with Anarchy. Benito Mussolini gained power in Rome with the help of his Blackshirts, who sometimes carried black flags, through they were usualy adorned with a white fasces, the symbol of Ancient Rome. The Fascists chose black essentialy because it was the opposite of red, the color of socialism, which they wanted above all else to distance themselves from. It is possible, though unlikely, that they were unaware of the color's use by Anarchists, whom they disliked as much if not more than ordinary Socialists.
[edit] Other anarchist symbols
The circle-A and the black flag are the primary symbols applicable to anarchism as a whole. However, various anarchist groups throughout history have developed their own symbols.
[edit] Red and black flag
The red-and-black flag is the symbol of the anarcho-syndicalism and libertarian communism movement. Anarcho-syndicalism, which is associated with the labor union movement, draws its principles from both anarchism and more heavily from socialism than many other anti-capitalist anarchist movements. As discussed in the black flag section, black is the traditional color of anarchism, and red is the traditional color of socialism.
The red-and-black flag combines the two colors in equal parts, with a simple diagonal split. Typically, the red section is placed on the top-left corner, with the black on the bottom-right corner of the flag. This symbolizes the co-existence of anarchist and socialist ideals within the anarcho-syndicalism movement, and to symbolize the more socialistic means of the movement leading to a more anarchistic end.
A notable anarcho-syndicalist group is Spain's Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT), which still exists today. The CNT, along with the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI), a major militant faction within the CNT, was a major player in the popular anarchism movements in Spain of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This group has its own version of the red-and-black flag with its initials on the flag. CNT is in the red, while FAI is in the black — the color of anarchy — as the FAI was founded in 1927 to keep the CNT dedicated to anarchist principles.
This design influenced the flag of Spanish Falange, a right-wing, National syndicalist group that wanted to transcend the class struggle by corporatist vertical trade-unions, and with was eventually absorbed into the FET y de las JONS of Francisco Franco.
[edit] Purple and black flag
A simple variation of the red and black Anarchist flag, the black and purple is used in association with Anarcha-Feminism. Much like the pink and black flag (below) it focuses on the struggle against sexism and patriarchy.
[edit] Pink and black flag
Another variation of the black and red flag, the black and pink flag is used by queer anarchists, and sometimes by Anarcha-Feminists. Unlike the black and green flag, it doesn't necessarily represent another form of anarchism, but is used to focus on (opposition to) the hierarchial patterns of heterosexism, sexism and patriarchy.
[edit] Green and black flag
The black and green flag is a modification to the original black and red flag of anarchism. This flag is used by social ecologists, eco-anarchists, anti-civilization anarchists and primitivists. It is generally taken to symbolize a vision of anarchism that focuses on the self-determination of all forms of life (animals, humans, bioregions) and not just humans.
[edit] Black cat
The black cat, also called the "wild cat" usually with an arched back and with claws and teeth bared, is closely associated with anarchism, especially with anarcho-syndicalism. It was designed by Ralph Chaplin, who was a prominent figure in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). As its stance suggests, the cat is meant to suggest wildcat strikes and radical unionism. The IWW (or the Wobblies) was an important industrial union, and was the first American labor union to recruit and organize women and people of color, and played a critical role in the fight for the 8 hour work day and in Free Speech fights all over the country in the early 20th century. Their most famous and influential years were from 1905 until they were largely suppressed by the Palmer Raids in 1920. Contrary to some historians accounts, the IWW (like activist Joe Hill) never died and remains an active labor union today. In the 1990's the IWW experienced a major revival, and is now one of the fastest growing labor unions in America, and the nations largest explicitly anti-capitalist organization. Current campaigns are focussed mostly on low-wage service industry workers, and in 2005 the IWW became the first American labor union to successfully unionize a Starbucks coffee shop (in New York City). They embrace the black cat as a symbol of the worker's movement.
The name Black Cat has been used for numerous anarchist-affiliated collectives and cooperatives, including a well-known music venue in Austin, Texas (which was closed following a July 6, 2002 fire) and a now-defunct "collective kitchen" in the University District of Seattle, Washington.
As a symbol, the black cat has historically been associated with witchcraft, ill omens, and death. It dates back to ancient Hebrew and Babylonian cultures. The witchcraft usage has persisted into modern times; anarchism shares the black cat symbol with witchcraft and Wicca, though the latter two generally do not represent the cat with its back arched in a fighting stance.
[edit] Black Cross
The Anarchist Black Cross organization's primary goal is to eliminate all prisons. It originated in Tsarist Russia as a support organization for political prisoners. Their symbol is a black cross, with the upwards-facing line being replaced with a 'clenched fist' 'closed fist', or 'raised fist', a symbol also associated with anarchism, defiance of authority, and personal empowerment (black power, youth power, women's liberation, American Indian Movement, International Socialist Organization, 'power to the people', etc...). The fist also represents union, as "many weak fingers can come together to create a strong fist".
The cross is a modification of the Red Cross emblem used by International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (founded 1863), the world's largest group of humanitarian organizations. Originally called the Anarchist Red Cross, the name was changed around 1920 to avoid confusion when the Red Cross started organizing relief for prisoners as well. It should be noted that like the Red Cross, this symbol is not intended to be overtly Christian, though it may be ultimately derived from the Christian cross. The Red Cross and Anarchist Black Cross are humanitarian symbols; the Christian cross is a religious symbol.
[edit] Wooden shoe
The wooden shoe was used symbolically by anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century, although it has largely faded from use since then. The French word for wooden shoe, sabot is the probable root of the word sabotage: and refers to the tactic by early Dutch unionists of throwing wooden shoes into the gears of factory or farm machinery, effectively stopping work until the equipment could be repaired. The American analogue of this tactic is "monkeywrenching," refering to the similar practice of throwing a monkeywrench in the machinery to damage it and prevent scabs from being able to replace workers on strike.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there is an anarchist bookshop called The Wooden Shoe, and from 2001 to 2003 there was an anarchist magazine in Denmark called Sabot.
[edit] Monkey wrench
The Monkey wrench has been adopted as a symbol of sabotage as well, probably originating with Edward Abbey's book The Monkey Wrench Gang and popularised by Earth First!. To 'monkey wrench' or to 'monkeywrench' as a verb means to sabotage something, typically something seen as being bad for the environment. The Monkey Wrench in Earth First! imagery is often 'crossed' with a tomahawk (as are the hammer and sickle symbol of communists) to create a symbol implying damage to machinery in defense of Mother Earth. Earth First!, though not an 'organisation', per se, has decided, via consensus (a popular method for decision-making among anarchists) that they do not support damage to property as a tactic. Regardless, the monkey wrench continues to be used as a symbol of the Earth First! movement, whose main philosophy can be rendered as 'No compromise in defense of Mother Earth', and, 'Stand up for what you stand on.'
[edit] Stars
Variations of the anarchist flags (above), only in the shape of a five-pointed star.
Variations of the star exist as adaptations of the flags, there are black and red, green, pink, purple and others.
[edit] Black Rose
The Black Rose is a little known symbol of the anarchist movement. The political origins of the Black Rose can be traced to the Irish song about their struggle against the British, “Little Black Rose”. The song is one of resistance and rebellion, and as such aligns to the general view adopted by anarchists of anti-authoritarianism.
[edit] Jolly Roger/Pirate flag
The Jolly Roger as a black flag with skull and bones has recently gained a popularity among anarchists.
Some claim to use the Jolly Roger as a form of appreciation for the pirate way of life of freedom and a lack of authority. Many pirate ships were loosely democratic and crewmates were often either working class fugitives from the highly repressive societies in which they were born, or naval sailors who had mutinied.
[edit] "Eat the rich"
A variation of the Jolly Roger, but with a longer history among anarchists, the "Eat the rich" symbol has been around since at least the early 1990s. At first sight it looks like the Jolly Roger, but the crossed bones are replaced by a knife and a fork. It is mostly an anarcho-punk symbol.
[edit] African Anarchism
This symbol is used mostly by Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation. Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (ZACF or ZabFed) is a federation of anarchist groups in South Africa. ZabFed was inspired by the Organisational Platform of the Libertarian Communists. ZabFed members share a basic agreement in terms of theoretical and tactical unity, collective responsibility, and federalism as suggests by the "Platform". In historical terms the platformist tradition starts with The Organizational Platform of the Libertarian Communists, and includes the Friends of Durruti grouping of CNT members during The Spanish Revolution who wrote Towards A Fresh Revolution. In the post-war period many include documents like the Georges Fontenis' pamphlet Manifesto of Libertarian Communism.
The symbolism of a united Africa, displayed in traditional anarcho-communist colours, is an important one, as a mixture of different demographic groups are represented by Zalabaza in the midst of a societal environment that is otherwise tense with post-colonial racial and sexual issues.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Template:Note 'Alchemical Mandala No. 6' by Adam McLean, in The Hermetic Journal No. 6, London, 1979
[edit] External links
- An Anarchist FAQ - Appendix 2 - The Symbols of Anarchy
- Text-only version of the above
- Anarchism at the Flags Of The World website
- Wooden Shoe Books
- A gallery of anarchy symbols stencilled onto walls
- Anarchism and the History of the Black Flag
The page was seeded with material from Wikipedia
