What the Hammer and Sickle ☭ Symbol Means Online (And in the Real World)

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The history of the symbol, Communism, and how they’re viewed
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You probably recognize the image of a hammer and sickle from history class, but you may be surprised to know there’s no actual hammer and sickle emoji—just a black and white Unicode character (☭). In this article, we’ll explain why this character exists in the first place and what it means when used online, plus explore the history of the hammer and sickle symbol and its relationships to Communism and history with the Soviet Union.

Hammer and Sickle Emoji Meaning

  • There is no hammer and sickle emoji, but there is a Unicode character: ☭.
  • Online, the ☭ symbol shows support for Communism and the plight of the working class or frustrations with capitalism (sarcastic or genuine).
  • The hammer and sickle represents the solidarity of the working class and was featured on the flag of the Soviet Union. Today, it’s a global symbol of Communism.
Section 1 of 5:

Is there a hammer and sickle emoji?

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  1. The hammer and sickle symbol (☭) was approved in 1993 as part of Unicode 1.1 (for reference, Unicode assigns a specific code number to symbols and characters so they appear the same across different digital platforms and languages). [1] So while there is no colorful emoji, there is still a black-and-white symbol you can use online:
    • On Windows, hold Alt and press 262D
    • On Mac or mobile, copy and paste the symbol: ☭
    • Unicode number: U+262D [2]
    • HTML code: ☭
    • CSS code: \262D
  2. Both of these emojis symbolize industrial work or labor (like the hammer and sickle) and resemble the crossed design of the ☭ symbol. Since there’s no sickle, though, the specific connection to Communism or the Soviet Union isn’t as strong.
    • The ⚒️ or 🛠️ emojis are sometimes paired with 🚩 (red flag) to resemble the Soviet Union flag, which was red with a golden hammer and sickle on it.
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Section 2 of 5:

What does the hammer and sickle symbol mean online?

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  1. While the ☭ symbol originally had a very specific meaning and history (more on that later), today, it’s more of a broad symbol representing general Communist ideals like a classless society, even distribution of wealth and property, or the well-being and power of the working class.
    • For example, if someone included ☭ in their username on social media, it would indicate they have a pro-Communist or pro-worker point of view, even if they’re not technically Communist themselves.
    • You might also see the ☭ symbol in posts about the struggle of working, the economy, or different ideologies:
      • “Whoever thought a 40-hour work week was fine was insane! ☭”
      • “I’ve been doing some reading and that Karl Marx guy might’ve been onto something ☭ 👀”
  2. In the USA especially, young people’s image of capitalism (the “opposite” of Communism) has deteriorated so much that capitalism and socialism are now equally popular among Millennials and Gen Z. This isn’t totally surprising as stagnant wages and wealth inequality have become big political issues for young people. Unlike past generations, young people seem more comfortable with the government checking the power of big business (which leans away from capitalism and toward socialism or Communism). [3]
    • So, someone might include a ☭ symbol in their username or posts to show they think the economy is unfair to the working class or to advocate for more equitable economic policies.
    • This doesn’t mean they’re pro-Communism exactly. Instead, it’s a rejection of current capitalist policies that are perceived as “oppressive” or just not working.
    • It’s a semi-ironic usage, kind of how you might jokingly greet a coworker as “comrade” to show that neither of you wants to be at work, but you’re going to get through it together.
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Section 3 of 5:

Why is the hammer and sickle in Unicode?

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  1. It belongs to the “Miscellaneous Characters” section of Unicode under the “Religious and political symbols” subblock. [4] This section contains other recognizable characters that represent different ideologies and beliefs (some of which are now official emojis) like ☮️ (peace sign), ☯️ (yin-yang symbol), ☫ (Farsi symbol), ☬ (Adi Shakti), ☨ (Cross of Lorraine), and more. [5]
    • The ☭ symbol was likely included in an effort to represent a broad variety of beliefs and affiliations and to standardize a symbol that was prominent in global politics at the time.
    • The ☭ Unicode character was introduced just 2 years after the fall of the Soviet Union (the most powerful Communist nation at the time) in 1991. Even though Communism was mostly in decline at this time, it was still very much in the public zeitgeist.
  2. Some believe that the hammer and sickle represents the atrocities committed by Joseph Stalin when he ruled the Soviet Union, making it immoral to include in Unicode (like how the swastika is now a taboo symbol after it became associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis). However, others argue that since multiple countries remain Communist and the symbol’s original meaning was meant to be hopeful, it’s OK to keep the Unicode character.
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Section 4 of 5:

Meaning & History of the Hammer and Sickle Symbol

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  1. The hammer represents the working class that’s engaged in industrial production, while the sickle (a curved blade used as an agricultural tool) represents farmers and agrarians who tend the land. The symbol means that when unified, the working class can seize power from the bourgeoisie (the smaller class that owns the most wealth and means of production). [6]
  2. After the Russian Revolution and the country’s withdrawal from World War I in 1917, the new Soviet Union drafted its constitution and adopted a new flag. Various other designs were considered, and the original hammer and sickle emblem featured a sword as well (but this was vetoed by Vladimir Lenin in order to maintain a peaceful image after the war). [7]
    • The background of the flag is red, while the hammer and sickle are a golden yellow.
    • The flag also featured a red star above the point of the sickle, symbolizing the dream of spreading Communism and freeing workers all over the world.
  3. The Soviet Union fell in 1991, but not before inspiring (and in many cases, forcing) other countries to adopt Communism. For example, the symbol is included on the flags of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Communist Party of Vietnam, both of which are Communist countries (it doesn’t appear on either country’s national flag, but the red and yellow color scheme of both is reminiscent of the Soviet Union’s flag). [8]
    • In Europe, the symbol appears all over buildings and monuments in Russia and former Soviet republics. Many former Soviet states associate it with the totalitarianism and crimes against humanity of the Soviet Union and even encouraged the European Union to ban the symbol in 2010.
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Section 5 of 5:

Communism vs. Socialism vs. Capitalism

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  1. Communism is a political and economic system that idealizes a classless society where the means of production (mines, factories, farms, etc.) are controlled and owned by the public. The system is not profit-based, wealth is distributed among citizens equally or according to need, and there is no private or government property. [9]
    • Most Communist principles come from Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto in 1848, which is also where socialism and Marxism comes from.
    • Communism is seen as a specific or elevated form of socialism, although the two terms are often used interchangeably.
    • There’s nothing about Communism that specifically advocates for totalitarianism, but the two are often associated due to the regimes of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.
  2. In the socialist view, freedom and equality are only available to those who own the means of production. So, socialism advocates for communal property and production, typically controlled by the state or government, to create a more equal society. Since everyone owns the means of production, everyone is free. [10]
    • Communism is seen as the idealized or ultimate form of socialism, but there are less extreme forms of socialism too.
    • For example, democratic socialism advocates for the democratic control of both the economy and society to meet the needs of all people instead of a rich few. The government doesn’t have to own everything, but workers and consumers should have power in industries and companies that affect them.
  3. In capitalism, private individuals or companies own and control property and production according to their own interests, and supply-and-demand sets the prices in free markets to serve the best interest of society. Unlike socialist systems, which seek to split wealth equally, capitalism is motivated by making a profit: assets are owned, labor is purchased, and capital gains accrue to private owners. [11]
    • Whereas socialism is about the collective good, capitalism emphasizes that what’s good for the individual is good for all.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.unicode.org/standard/WhatIsUnicode.html
      2. ↑ https://symbl.cc/en/262D/
      3. ↑ https://news.gallup.com/poll/268766/socialism-popular-capitalism-among-young-adults.aspx
      4. ↑ https://symbl.cc/en/262D/
      5. ↑ https://symbl.cc/en/unicode/blocks/miscellaneous-symbols/#subblock-2626
      6. ↑ https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/hammer-sickle-communism-soviet-symbol-why/
      7. ↑ https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/hammer-sickle-communism-soviet-symbol-why/
      8. ↑ https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/hammer-sickle-communism-soviet-symbol-why/
      9. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/communism
      1. ↑ https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/socialism/
      2. ↑ https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2015/06/basics.htm

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