Black American Flags

I AM Black American

Black Americans have 4 flags to choose from!

1. RBG - Pan African Flag

The Pan African flag was created in 1920 by Marcus Garvey of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

The RBG flag is an ethnic flag representing pan-Africanism, the African diaspora, and/or black nationalism.

• "Red - Red is the color of the blood which men must shed for their redemption and liberty; the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation;

• Black - Black is the color of the noble and distinguished race to which we belong; black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag;

• Green - Green is the color of the luxuriant vegetation of our Motherland; the abundant natural wealth of Africa."

Wikipedia contributors. "Pan-African flag." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Jul. 2025. Web. 13 Aug. 2025.

2. Black American Heritage Flag

The Black American Heritage Flag is an ethnic flag created in 1967 by Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson.

• "The gold-colored blunted sword represent "the feeling of having pride and also knowing, when you have a blunted sword, when you blunt it you learn to curdling the earth"

• The gold wreath symbolized peace, prosperity, and everlasting life.

• Red was chosen to represent the "rich blood we shed for freedom, justice, and human dignity, and the color

• Black was for the pride in our pigmentation"

Wikipedia contributors. "Black American Heritage Flag." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Aug. 2025. Web. 13 Aug. 2025.

3. African American Flag

The African American Flag is an ethnic flag that was created in David Hammons from 1990, combining the colors of the Pan-African flag with the stars and stripes of the United States flag.

This is the flag that I most resonate with. It shows the separation I feel from the Amerikkkan flag, but also how much we are a part of the foundation and global impact of America.

4. Juneteenth Flag

The Juneteenth flag is in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday in the United States. The flag was created in 1997 by activist Ben Haith. The date "June 19, 1865" was added to the flag in 2007.

• "The flag uses the colors red, white and blue of the American flag.

  • The red, white, and blue colors were meant to convey the message that all enslaved people in the United States -- as well as their descendants -- are American.

• Featured prominently in the center of the flag is a bursting star for freedom and a new beginning for all.

  • The five-pointed star refers both to Texas (nicknamed the "Lone Star state") and to the "freedom of African Americans in all 50 states" as well as Texas being the first state to celebrate Juneteenth as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day.

• Running through the center of the flag horizontally, is an arc that is meant to symbolize the new horizon of opportunity for black people.

  • The arc representing the horizon shows blue above and the red color below is symbolic of the ground soaked with blood; the blood which was shed of the Black Americans enslaved by the United States."

"Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, declared that all slaves in the rebel Confederate States were free. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived at the port of Galveston, Texas and announced that slavery had been ended with General Order No. 3. The Juneteenth Flag has the date of June 19, 1865 displayed on it."

"The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when the 117th U.S. Congress enacted and President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law."

While learning about the Juneteenth holiday in 2015 and beginning to officially celebrate in 2017 by attending Festivals in San Francisco and Berkeley, California which at the time had been annual celebrations for over 60 and 30 years respectively... I didn't learn about the Juneteenth flag until the year before it became a federal holiday.

While I recognize and respect the Juneteenth flag, I still use the RBG or African American flag more to celebrate the holiday. The red, white, and blue still doesn't sit right with my spirit.

Wikipedia contributors. "Juneteenth." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Jul. 2025. Web. 13 Aug. 2025.

Wikipedia contributors. "Juneteenth flag." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Aug. 2025. Web. 13 Aug. 2025.

And of course, there is also...

5. The United States of America Flag

Which Black Americans still can choose. We were here BEFORE the foundation of this country in 1776. We were here upon it's creation in 1619 Jamestown, Viriginia by the British (and even in 1565 St. Augustine, Florida by the Spanish). We have fought in her wars. We have fought for our rights. We have been here for centuries and for generations. We have every right to hope that America could be all she could really be.

"The national flag of the United States, often referred to as the American flag or the U.S. flag or the The Star-Spangled Banner, consists of

• thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that won independence from Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War

• with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows, where rows of six stars alternate with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 U.S. states"

• Color Symbolism

  • The colors weren't given an official meaning upon creation and probably were just taken from the British flag, but they have been given various meaning by different people throughout the years.

  • "Red - hardiness & valor; Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice;

  • White - signifies purity and innocence; white for pure intentions and high ideals;

  • Blue - the color of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice; blue for vigilance and justice;"

• The flag for America was first created in 1775, only adding stars in 1777, and continued to experience countless changes in star designs as more states were added to the country. The final design that is used today was created in 1960 by United States Army Institute of Heraldry.

Wikipedia contributors. "Flag of the United States." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Aug. 2025. Web. 13 Aug. 2025.

BUT, the ONLY times I have been proud of being an American and using the American flag is when Barack Obama became the president of the United States of America, the first time. And When Black Americans compete in the Olympics.

Cause at the end of the day...

Which flag resonates the most with you?