The Man Behind The Official Juneteenth Flag

The official Juneteenth flag is red, white, and blue.
Not red, black, and green.

Every year Juneteenth rolls around and I see the colors red, black, green and yellow.

On clothes.
On celebration flyers
On decorations.

But did you know there is an official Juneteenth flag and the colors are red, white and blue?

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally informed of their freedom.

Juneteenth marks that delayed liberation.

The official Juneteenth flag was created and designed by activist Ben Haith in 1997 and holds so much symbolism.

The Star

The white five-pointed star represents Texas, where news finally reached the last remaining people who were enslaved. It also represents the freedom of African Americans that was obtained in all 50 states.

The Burst

The burst outline around the star is a nova, which is an astronomical term for a new star. This represents a new start for the African American people.

The Arc

The arc that separates the blue and red colors in the background of the flag represents a new horizon, which symbolizes new opportunities for African Americans.

The Colors

The colors on the Juneteenth flag are the same as the American flag to serve as a reminder that enslaved people and their descendants are Americans.

This Juneteenth, we remember and celebrate how far we’ve come and how much further we still have to go.

We honor the resilience, power and pride of our people and carry that legacy with us.