FLAG EXPLAINER | Juneteenth Flag

Juneteenth is the holiday that celebrates the freeing of African slaves across the United States. And before we dive into the Juneteenth flag, we need to learn a little more about that fateful day in June of 1865.

Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863. However the enforcement of the emancipation kind of relied on the Union troops advancing to each and every slave owning area.

Texas was the most remote slave state, and even after the Civil War had ended they kinda just kept it that way. That is until Union troops landed on Galveston Island near Houston on June 19th, 1865 and proclaimed the emancipation of slaves in the last remaining slave state. Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, signed into law by president Joe Biden in 2021.

OK, so let’s talk about the Juneteenth Flag. 

The flag was the brainchild of activist Ben Haith and illustrated by Lisa Jeanne Graf.

Right off the bat, you can easily see a resemblance to the Texas flag and that isn’t unintended. The star in the middle represents the Lone Star State as well as all African Americans in the US.

The colors of the flag, Red, White and Blue, are intentionally the same as the United States as a reminder that enslaved people and their descendants were, and are, Americans.

The arc shape is a symbol of hope. It represents a new horizon that hold opportunity and promise for Black Americans.

The Nova around the star represents a new beginning for the freed slaves.

You may see versions with the date "June 19,1865" on the fly edge of the flag. That was added in 2006, but we offer the version without the text because it more closely follows good flag design rules.

Each year, the Juneteenth flag gains more and more notoriety and traction. With more news and awareness around the flag, it is becoming a much more popular thing to see flying in summer time.

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We at Flags For Good offer a few different sizes of the Juneteenth flag (including a cute garden flag!) to help you celebrate the holiday. Each of these flags we sell automatically donates 10% to organizations that advance the lives and livelihoods of people of color.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Juneteenth Flag

What is the Juneteenth flag?

The Juneteenth flag is the official flag of Juneteenth, the holiday marking June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved people they were free (more than two months after the Civil War ended). Ben Haith designed the flag in 1997 and it was updated in 2000. It's flown on June 19th, which became a federal holiday in 2021.

What do the colors of the Juneteenth flag mean?

Red, white, and blue, the same as the American flag. That's intentional. The design makes a direct statement: enslaved people were Americans. Their freedom was an American story, not a separate one. The colors don't mark a different nation...they reclaim belonging within this one.

What does the star on the Juneteenth flag mean?

The five pointed star at the center represents the state of Texas, where in Galveston, the final slaves were told of their freedom. Around it is a nova, a 12 pointed burst star with representing a new beginning, freedom, and a new era for Black Americans. The arc running across the flag reinforces the horizon symbolism, a visual dividing line between the past and what came after.

Who designed the Juneteenth flag?

Ben Haith created the original design in 1997. Haith founded the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation and spent years promoting the holiday before it became a federal observance.

When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?

June 19, 2021. President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law that day, making it a federal holiday in the United States. It was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.

Where can I buy a Juneteenth flag?

Flags For Good carries Juneteenth flags, and every purchase donates $1 to an organization of your choice.