Understand SC

The South Carolina flag design that everyone hated

Episode Summary

When The Post and Courier published a story about a standardized flag design that historians had chosen after months of deliberation, people...kind of hated it. Check out this week's episode to learn more about how the design came to be.

Episode Notes

South Carolinians are very familiar with their flag. 

The simple but well-loved combination of the indigo backdrop, the crescent and the palmetto tree is everywhere. It doesn't just hang from flag poles. It's on t-shirts and beer koozies and neckties. 

But not many people knew that the state actually hasn't had a standardized flag design for about 80 years.

That's why a group of historians set out to create an official design, based on the state's history and the flag's origins. After exhaustive research, they shared their final design choice with The Post and Courier. 

And . . . people hated it. 

Reporter Avery Wilks broke down for us why people disliked the design so much and what that might say about the state's connection to its flag. 

We also heard from Scott Malyerck, who was part of the committee that chose the design, about why they chose the design they did and how the deluge of criticism could actually be a good thing for their effort. 

Listen now to hear more about the flag design South Carolina can't stop talking about.