A new public television documentary series that investigates American history through iconic symbols will broadcast a fresh episode Wednesday on the distinctive yellow Gadsden flag that has Charleston patriotic roots.
“Our goal with this series was to explore the history and meaning of these iconic symbols and to better understand the bigger issues and societal currents they reveal,” said David Rubenstein, host and an executive producer of the PBS series. Rubenstein was in Charleston April 20 to receive the Charleston Library Society’s 2023 Founders Award.
The May 10 episode, which will be broadcast statewide on SCETV at 10 p.m., dives into how the “Dont Tread on Me” flag, once a potent symbol of independence attributed to Charleston patriot Christopher Gadsden, has been co-opted by a variety of Americans over its long history.
The colonial yellow flag with a coiled rattlesnake above the words “Dont Tread on Me” is a Revolutionary War symbol for national unity and perseverance developed by Gadsden, a slaveowner who owned the land that the new International African American Museum now occupies.
According to 350 Facts about Charleston, published in 2020 by the Charleston City Paper, founding father Benjamin Franklin penned what’s thought to be the first political cartoon in the country in a 1754 illustration of a rattlesnake cut into eight pieces over the words “Join or Die” to rally colonists to take part in the French and Indian War.
“Fast forward 21 years when Gadsden, a member of the Second Continental Congress, was on a committee to outfit the colonies’ first naval mission,” the book outlines. “He presented the yellow flag to the new Navy’s commander to be his personal standard, or flag, for the ship. Gadsden’s flag later inspired the first U.S. Navy Jack, a red-and-white striped flag with a rattlesnake.”
The yellow flag’s origin is traced from this banner for the Navy to its use by the tea party and later presence during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In the Gadsden flag episodes of the series, which is entitled, Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories, Rubenstein speaks with Lowcountry resident Michael Boulware Moore, who helped found the International African American Museum. He also talks with author Walter Isaacson, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C, and academic Hasan Jeffries.
“David [Rubenstein] brings his unique mix of wry humor, relentless curiosity, and deep engagement with history to this exploration of how we interpret our iconic American symbols throughout the country,” said Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA, in a press release.
Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories is a production of Show of Force, DMR Productions, and WETA Washington, D.C. The documentary travels across the country stopping to explore iconic national symbols along the way. From Boston to San Francisco and New York to Oklahoma City, Rubenstein rediscovers Fenway Park, the Hollywood Sign, the American Cowboy and more.
“I’ve long been struck by the strength of American symbols while saddened by how little we know about them,” Rubenstein said.
Each episode takes a deep dive into a symbol’s history and how its meaning has changed over time. It spotlights how these icons were created and how the perception of them formed and changed through interviews with experts and community members.
“I am grateful to WETA for its confidence in and support of this project and to Show of Force for helping to create a remarkable series,” said Rubenstein.
Seven more episodes of the docuseries
Additional episodes of Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories, include:
Fenway Park: Baseball is a favorite American pastime and obsession, and no ballpark is more iconic than Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. This episode tells the story of a city’s loyalty to its team and love for its ballpark through thick and thin. This episode aired April 26 on PBS.
The Hollywood Sign: The Hollywood Sign episode examines the history of the Los Angeles landmark, which was erected in 1923 originally as a real estate advertisement, and went on to become an international symbol of fame, fortune and the American dream. This episode aired May 3 on PBS.
The American Cowboy: The cowboy is the quintessential American — fiercely independent, brave and laconic. The episode examines the myths and realities of this archetype, which remains as powerful as ever in the 21st century. Premieres May 17 at 10:00 p.m. on PBS.
Statue of Liberty: This episode surveys the evolving meaning the Statue of Liberty has for a “nation of immigrants” and how it embodies our values and our conflicts, from abolition and women’s suffrage to the treatment of refugees. Premieres July 11 at 10:00 p.m. on PBS.
The Bald Eagle: In this episode, discover how the American Bald Eagle soared to its vaunted perch in American iconography, a symbol not only of patriotism but also of environmental activism and Native American traditions. Premieres July 18 at 10:00 p.m. on PBS.
Stone Mountain: This episode considers the fate of the Monument at Stone Mountain in Georgia, revealing a nation wrestling with its past as Confederate statues are being removed across the country. Premieres July 25 at 10:00 p.m. on PBS.
The Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is an engineering marvel that symbolizes America’s can-do spirit. This episode explores if America can continue to execute bold and ambitious infrastructure projects in the 21st century. Premieres Aug. 1 at 10:00 p.m. on PBS.
- You can purchase 350 Facts About Charleston online for $20.
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