May 28th 2024.
When we think of holidays, we often associate them with specific colors. For Valentine's Day, it's all about the color red. On Halloween, we see a lot of orange and black. And for the Fourth of July, it's all about red, white, and blue. But what about Juneteenth? What colors should we be wearing to celebrate this important holiday?
According to Laquan Austion, founder and CEO of The Juneteenth Foundation, the history and significance of Juneteenth's colors stem from two different perspectives, each represented by a different Juneteenth flag. "There are two flags which most folks know," Austion explained to BLACK ENTERPRISE. "One is red, white, and blue, designed to resemble the traditional American flag. The other is the traditional Pan-African flag, which features the colors red, black, and green. The community wanted to make sure we were acknowledging our African roots and honoring the importance of these colors, with red representing blood, black representing soil, and green representing prosperity in Africa."
The red, white, and blue colors are meant to honor the American tradition. The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), which includes hundreds of local organizations, played a crucial role in the passage of Juneteenth Independence Day legislation. Observed annually on June 19th, Juneteenth marks the emancipation of America's enslaved community and became a federal holiday in 2021.
NJOF shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE a 2020 CNN article that described the original Juneteenth flag as having a bursting star in the middle, symbolizing the end of slavery in the United States. This flag was designed in the late 1990s by activist Ben Haith and illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf. In the article, Haith explained that the red, white, and blue colors were chosen to represent the American flag and serve as a reminder that slaves and their descendants are Americans. He also noted that these colors symbolize the continuous commitment to do better and uphold the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.
On the other hand, the red, black, and green colors are meant to honor African roots. Austion commended the NJOF leaders for their longstanding dedication to the fight for Juneteenth, "before it was relevant and before it was popular in the nation." He also gave a special shoutout to Ms. Opal Lee, also known as the grandmother of Juneteenth. Meanwhile, The National Juneteenth Foundation, founded by Austion, looks to the future and how individuals and communities can actively engage in celebrating Juneteenth. This includes promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace through an annual hybrid career fair, providing scholarships for HBCU students, and ensuring that Black Americans have the space and freedom to celebrate Juneteenth in their own unique ways.
"Just like how people wear green and white on St. Patrick's Day, we should also proudly wear our colors, black, red, and green, on Juneteenth," Austion emphasized. "We should paint our nails, do our hair, and dress to impress. Let's represent our community and our special day." He encouraged everyone to use both flags, as they hold significant importance in their respective communities. The Pan-African flag represents historical ties to Africa, while the red, white, and blue flag symbolizes the journey to freedom and the pursuit of the American dream.
Ultimately, no matter which colors we choose to wear or which flags we fly, Austion reminds us to do it with style and pride. "Juneteenth is a colorful history that deserves to be celebrated," he said. So let's honor this important holiday by proudly displaying our colors and celebrating our community's resilience and strength.
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