What's the meaning of the Black Cat »
Black Cat
This page is about the meaning, origin and characteristic of the symbol, emblem, seal, sign, logo or flag: Black Cat.
The black cat, also called the "wild cat" or "sabot-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 aggressive stance suggests, the cat is meant to suggest such ideas as wildcat strikes, sabotage, and radical unionism.
The origin of the black cat symbol is unclear, but according to one story it came from a IWW strike that was going badly. Several members had been beaten up and were put in a hospital. At that time a skinny, black cat walked into the striker's camp. The cat was fed by the striking workers and as the cat regained its health the strike took a turn for the better. Eventually the striking workers got some of their demands and they adopted the cat as their mascot.
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Graphical characteristics:
Asymmetric, Open shape, Monochrome, Contains curved lines, Has crossing lines.
Category: Political Symbols.
Black Cat is part of the Anarchism Symbols group.
More symbols in Anarchism Symbols:
Anarchism is often defined as a political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, or harmful. However, others argue that while anti-statism is central, it is inadequate to d… read more »
More symbols in Political Symbols:
Political symbolism is symbolism that is used to represent a political standpoint. The symbolism can occur in various media including banners, acronyms, pictures, flags, mottos, and countless more. F… read more »
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"Black Cat." Symbols.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.symbols.com/symbol/black-cat>.
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