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Juneteenth Flag (U.S.)

Last modified: 2019-08-02 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | commemorative | juneteenth | emancipation day | afro-american | heritage |
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[Juneteenth flag] image provided by National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, 21 December 2018

See also:

Description of the Flag

Image with context in www.juneteenth.us shows what seems to be a Juneteenth flag crossed with the U.S. national flag: It is a ~3:5 blue over red bicolor with the dividing line bowed downwards with horizontal symmetry and centered over all a large white five-pointed regular star upright within a white thick outline of a 12-pointed regular star upright. I can imagine that the intended symbolism refers both to a new dawn and to the state flag of Texas. See a slightly different depiction for sale at www.tangibles.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3 (no longer active).
António Martins-Tuválkin, 3 February 2008

More on the flag by Lisa Jeanne Graf:

"Juneteenth is the holiday that celebrates the day that all the slaves in America became free. I created the final design for the Juneteeth Flag. People who contributed to the process were Boston Ben, Verlene Hines, Azim, and Eliot Design.

The Juneteenth flags represent the history, and freedom the American Slaves and their descendants. The design of the Juneteenth flag depicts a bursting "new star", on the horizon. The star represents A NEW FREEDOM, A NEW PEOPLE, A NEW STAR. The red, white, and blue colors communicate that the American Slaves, and their descendants were all Americans."

source: www.ljgraf.com/flag_designs.html
Ned Smith and Ivan Sache, 16 April 2008

History of the Flag

The Juneteenth Flag was created by former NJOF Massachusetts Juneteenth State Director and Founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF), Ben Haith, in 1997. The flag underwent a revision in the year 2000 resulting in its present modern day design. In 2007, the phrase the "June 19, 1865" was added to the flag to place the historic date that Juneteenth occurred in Galveston, Texas.

Haith spearheaded the historic first Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts in 2000. The tradition of raising of the Juneteenth Flag at the Dillaway Thomas House at the Roxbury Heritage Park on the "19th of June" continues to this day.

Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremonies takes place throughout the month of June in communities across the nation, including Chicago IL, Boston, MA, Las Vegas NV, Memphis, TN, Galveston, TX and Omaha, NE.

AMERICAN FLAGS OF FREEDOM
The Juneteenth Flag is a symbol that gives all Americans the opportunity to recognize American freedom & African American History.
The Juneteenth Flag represents a star of Texas bursting with new freedom throughout the land, over a new horizon.
The Juneteenth Flag represents a new freedom, a new people, and a new star.
The Juneteenth Flag is created with American red, white, and blue colors.
The Juneteenth Flag & American Flag Sets & Other items are available for all Americans who cherish and stand for freedom.

ORDER OF JUNETEENTH FLAG RAISING CEREMONY
Raising of the U.S. Flag
Playing of the National Anthem
Raising of the Juneteenth Flag
Playing of the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice & Sing"
Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation
Keynote Speaker
Closing Comments & Prayer

The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) has been instrumental in the passage of legislation recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day across the United States. Juneteenth is currently recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger made everyone aware of freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. Texas was the last state in rebellion to allow slavery following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the issuing of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African American holiday observance.

Since 1997, the U.S. Congress has unanimously passed legislation recognizing Juneteenth for several years. For example, in 2011, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) sponsored H.R. 323 and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) sponsored of S.R. 211, "Observing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day" in America. In 2014 - 2016, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation recognizing the "19th of June" as Juneteenth Independence Day in America.

The Nineteenth of June, along with the Fourth of July, completes the cycle of freedom for Americans' Independence Day observance.

Deborah 'Dee' Evans, 21 December 2018
Director of Communications
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation