The Raised Fist is an iconic and nomadic symbol that has been widely reproduced and reused across different movements and contexts for over a century. Its familiarity and mobility across causes have made it one of the most enduring political icons of our time.
BLM Sign,Demonstration Location: Nelson Mandelapark (Bijlmer), 2020
The Raised Fist emoji was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. Since then, it has been widely used in digital communication to express resistance, solidarity, and defiance. The emoji gained particular prominence during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, following the global outcry over the death of George Floyd.
The first logo with a fist, symbol of solidarity and support. Cartoon published in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) journal Solidarity on June 30, 1917.
During the Weimar Republic, the Communist Party of Germany established the Roter Frontkämpferbund (RFB),or “Alliance of Red Front Fighters,” a paramilitary organization. The greeting “Rot Front!,” accompanied by a raised clenched fist, became a symbol of the RFB.
Poster from the Spanish civil war that took place from 1936 until 1939, Robert D.Farber University Archives
As a digital extension of the physical gesture, the emoji allows people to participate in conversations about social justice, show solidarity, and sometimes even bypass social media algorithms. Its recognizability and emotional weight make it a powerful tool in digital activism, enabling users to quickly and effectively signal support for a range of causes related to justice and human rights.
Just like its physical counterpart, the raised fist emoji has become a universal symbol of resistance in the digital age—continuing and amplifying the legacy of one of history's most enduring symbols of defiance and hope.
1968, During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
The raised fist emoji ✊🏿 has its roots in a long tradition of the raised fist symbol, which has represented solidarity, resistance, and the fight against oppression since the early 20th century.
Women! Free Our Sisters Poster featuring an image of protesting women and a list of demands. This poster was used to announce a protest scheduled for November 22, 1969 orchestrated by the N.E. National Museum of African American History and Culture
Over the decades, the symbol gained prominence in various social and political movements, including labor unions, anti-fascist groups, civil rights campaigns, and feminist organizations.
Historically, trade unions as well as socialist and communist parties adopted the raised fist. It was later embraced by anti-fascist movements between the world wars and by pan-African, anti-colonial, and anti-apartheid movements. In more recent history, it has been used by the Black Power movement, Women's Liberation, and Gay Liberation.
When associated with Black Power and anti-racist struggles, the raised fist is often referred to as the "Black Power salute" or "Black Power fist." Building on its strong connection to Black political resistance since the mid-20th century, the raised fist is now most closely associated with the Black Lives Matter movement—especially following the widespread demonstrations and social media activism in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd.
However, it is important to emphasize that no single movement or cause can claim exclusive ownership of the raised fist. Its recurring use across different times, regions, and political struggles highlights both its adaptability and symbolic longevity. The power of the raised fist lies precisely in this flexibility—its capacity to be recognized and repurposed by various groups seeking justice.
For examble, ✊🏿 is a visual symbol used globally by a wide array of social movements and political organizations. It manifests either as a physical gesture—an arm raised with a clenched fist—or as a graphic icon appearing on posters, placards, street art, pamphlets, badges, and clothing. Like all symbols, it conveys abstract ideas—most notably resistance. It also embodies the concept of "power from below" and the solidarity of people united in political struggle. As a result, the raised fist is commonly associated with democratic movements and popular uprisings against oppression.
The photo was taken at the Dam Square Protests (01/06/2020), Suzy Kay, BLM Protest Photographs
About
This experimental translator was created by Master's students in Information Design at DAE. It's designed to explore media activism, censorship, and online resistance, the website provides only a partial view due to the limited dataset.
This experimental translator was created by Master's students in Information Design at DAE. It's designed to explore media activism, censorship, and online resistance, the website provides only a partial view due to the limited dataset.
History
The Raised Fist is an iconic and nomadic symbol that has been widely reproduced and reused across different movements and contexts for over a century. Its familiarity and mobility across causes have made it one of the most enduring political icons of our time.
BLM Sign,Demonstration Location: Nelson Mandelapark (Bijlmer), 2020
The Raised Fist emoji was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. Since then, it has been widely used in digital communication to express resistance, solidarity, and defiance. The emoji gained particular prominence during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, following the global outcry over the death of George Floyd.
The first logo with a fist, symbol of solidarity and support. Cartoon published in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) journal Solidarity on June 30, 1917.
During the Weimar Republic, the Communist Party of Germany established the Roter Frontkämpferbund (RFB),or “Alliance of Red Front Fighters,” a paramilitary organization. The greeting “Rot Front!,” accompanied by a raised clenched fist, became a symbol of the RFB.
Poster from the Spanish civil war that took place from 1936 until 1939, Robert D.Farber University Archives
As a digital extension of the physical gesture, the emoji allows people to participate in conversations about social justice, show solidarity, and sometimes even bypass social media algorithms. Its recognizability and emotional weight make it a powerful tool in digital activism, enabling users to quickly and effectively signal support for a range of causes related to justice and human rights.
Just like its physical counterpart, the raised fist emoji has become a universal symbol of resistance in the digital age—continuing and amplifying the legacy of one of history's most enduring symbols of defiance and hope.
1968, During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
The raised fist emoji ✊🏿 has its roots in a long tradition of the raised fist symbol, which has represented solidarity, resistance, and the fight against oppression since the early 20th century.
Women! Free Our Sisters Poster featuring an image of protesting women and a list of demands. This poster was used to announce a protest scheduled for November 22, 1969 orchestrated by the N.E. National Museum of African American History and Culture
Over the decades, the symbol gained prominence in various social and political movements, including labor unions, anti-fascist groups, civil rights campaigns, and feminist organizations.
Historically, trade unions as well as socialist and communist parties adopted the raised fist. It was later embraced by anti-fascist movements between the world wars and by pan-African, anti-colonial, and anti-apartheid movements. In more recent history, it has been used by the Black Power movement, Women's Liberation, and Gay Liberation.
When associated with Black Power and anti-racist struggles, the raised fist is often referred to as the "Black Power salute" or "Black Power fist." Building on its strong connection to Black political resistance since the mid-20th century, the raised fist is now most closely associated with the Black Lives Matter movement—especially following the widespread demonstrations and social media activism in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd.
However, it is important to emphasize that no single movement or cause can claim exclusive ownership of the raised fist. Its recurring use across different times, regions, and political struggles highlights both its adaptability and symbolic longevity. The power of the raised fist lies precisely in this flexibility—its capacity to be recognized and repurposed by various groups seeking justice.
For examble, ✊🏿 is a visual symbol used globally by a wide array of social movements and political organizations. It manifests either as a physical gesture—an arm raised with a clenched fist—or as a graphic icon appearing on posters, placards, street art, pamphlets, badges, and clothing. Like all symbols, it conveys abstract ideas—most notably resistance. It also embodies the concept of "power from below" and the solidarity of people united in political struggle. As a result, the raised fist is commonly associated with democratic movements and popular uprisings against oppression.
The photo was taken at the Dam Square Protests (01/06/2020), Suzy Kay, BLM Protest Photographs
WHEN WORDS ARE NO LONGER SAFE, WHAT CAN WE SAY FOR ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻?
This translation tool helps you take part in protests and share your message effectively, using insights from the 1,000 most recent instagram posts (as of 30/04/2025) related to ✊🏿 Blacklivesmatter. By analyzing how emojis and words interact, it highlights the most impactful combinations for expressing your cause through symbols of resistance and community.
In protest posts, emojis play three key roles: they help avoid censorship, enhance emotional expression, and build a sense of shared identity. Using them well can make your activism more powerful.
The raised fist has become a powerful symbol of Black resistance and solidarity, evolving from a physical gesture against oppression to a digital icon used to express support for racial justice. The black fist emoji represents strength, unity, and the ongoing fight against systemic racism.
