• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Victims Of Hate Crime Salute MLK Jr With A Flag

ESSENCE.com spoke to Maria, the founder of Ross Flags, based in California and Texas, about deciding to put Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on a flag. What other historical figures did she have in mind, and why she was, along with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, so focused on sharing this flag across the country.
By Jenisha Watts · Updated October 29, 2020

martin-luther-king-jr-ross-flag-300x425.jpg
In the year 2000, Maria and Dwayne Ross were living the American Dream. Both graduated from college with “well-to-do” degrees. They had two beautiful children. The only thing left to do was purchase a home. And so they did. The couple moved to an upscale neighborhood in Katy, Texas.

It is the morning of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of ending  slavery in the United States. A happy Maria woke up with a great feeling of pride. She walked to her front door and, to her surprise, found a burning seven foot cross laying on her yard.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would wake up to something like that,” she says. “It was truly devastating.”

Maria had an epiphany that day: the United States flag but with a twist. The twist? Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on a flag.

ESSENCE.com spoke to Maria, the founder of Ross Flags, based in California and Texas, about deciding to put Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on a flag. What other historical figures did she have in mind, and why she, along with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, are so focused on sharing this flag across the country.

ESSENCE.com: What inspired you to think about putting Dr. King on a flag?
MARIA ROSS:
After being victims of a hate crime, my family turned to the inspiration of Dr. King to help get beyond our grief.  We decided we needed to do something to address the bigotry and ignorance which continue to plague our communities today.  We decided a visual display in the form of a flag could be a great symbol to help remind us of the selfless dedication Dr. King devoted to his life.

ESSENCE.com: You are also working closely with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston, Texas, on trying to get the flag flown in schools. You have been successful in some schools, but why is this so important to you?
ROSS:
The flag acts as a constant visual reminder of the sacrifices Dr. King and others made during the Civil Rights movement. One of the problems we’ve noticed among young people is the lack of appreciation for the opportunities they enjoy today. The flag helps stimulate dialogue, which is the basis for learning. Educators are given the gateway to delve into the history of the Civil Rights movement by focusing on Dr. King’s contributions to society.

ESSENCE.com: Are you considering placing any other Black historical figures on flags?
ROSS:
We are currently working on being licensed for other leaders. We are trying to become a flag company with a purpose. We would like to contribute positively to society by creating symbols of awareness and showing respect and honor to those that have brought constructive change to our world.

ESSENCE.com: In celebration of Dr. King’s legacy, what is the first aphorism that you remember the most from him?
ROSS:
The most impressionable words were, “The day we are not judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.”  Dr. King was willing to die for many causes but all wrongs he sought to right were based on the biases brought on by racism. This is exactly what brought my family the grief we suffered 32 years after Dr. King’s death.


COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now