The Meaningful Juneteenth Day Flag

A piece of design has to have meaning, otherwise is mere decoration. What attracted me most about graphic design was the idea that a designer communicates through symbols, images, colors, and the endless combination of them and many more.

One of the most exciting jobs for a graphic designer is the design of a flag. How does one represent a nation, a community, a set of values, a movement, an ideology? Today, I’m honored to feature the Juneteenth Day flag. A flag that I hope one day soon will be flying over state capitols and city buildings not only on June 19 but every day of the year.

Even though, it was on June 19, 1865 the enslaved black people of Galveston, Texas, became free Americans under the law, it took over 130 years for a flag that celebrates this historical day was designed. The Juneteenth flag was conceived by activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF) in 1997 with help of collaborators. Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graff brought Haith’s vision to life. In 2000 the flag was revised into the current version.

Four elements make the design: a star, a burst, an arc, and a limited color palette. What do they all mean?

THE STAR
The white star in the center means twofold, number one, Texas, the Lone Start State. It was in Galveston in 1865 where Union soldiers informed the country’s last remaining slaves that under the Emancipation Proclamation issue two years earlier, they were free and number two, the freedom of all African Americans across all the 50 states.

THE BURST
The inspiration for the burst outline around the star came from a nova, a term that astronomers use when talking about a new star. In this beautiful flag, the burst represents a new beginning for all African Americans of Galveston and from the entire country.

THE ARC
That curve that extends the entire width of the flag represents a new horizon. It stands for the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for the African American people.

THE COLORS
The red, white and blue come from the colors of the American flag, a remainder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.

I’m happy to see this important flag popping up on my Instagram feed – Below are a few posts. Happy belated Juneteenth Day world!

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“The [Juneteenth] flag is the brainchild of activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF). Haith created the flag in 1997 with the help of collaborators, and Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf brought their vision to life.” “L.J. Graf packed lots of meaning into her design. The colors red, white, and blue echo the American flag to symbolize that the enslaved people and their descendants were Americans. The star in the middle pays homage to Texas, while the bursting "new star" on the "horizon" of the red and blue fields represents a new freedom and a new people.” #juneteenth #freedom #juneteenthflag

A post shared by Candace Rowlett (@fitnesswithcan) on Jun 19, 2020 at 12:13pm PDT

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Happy Juneteenth ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? #juneteenth #juneteenth2020 #juneteenthflag #celebratefreedom #blackhistory #blackpower #learnyourhistory

A post shared by Joanna Spence (@kidinacandlestore) on Jun 19, 2020 at 11:41am PDT

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Happy Juneteenth! Did you know that there is a Juneteenth Flag? “The Juneteenth Flag is a symbolic representation of the end of slavery in the United States. The flag is the brainchild of activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF). Haith created the flag in 1997 with the help of collaborators, and Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf brought their vision to life.” CNN ?The white star: •The freedom of Black Americans in all 50 states •Texas, the Lone Star State ?The burst: •A nova: new star •New beginning for the Black Americans of Galveston and throughout the land. ?The arc: •A new horizon: the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for Black Americans. ???The red, white and blue: •The American flag •A reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans. ?June 19, 1865 •The day that enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas, became Americans under the law.

A post shared by Lab Middle School Art Studio (@artistsoflabms) on Jun 19, 2020 at 9:17am PDT

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#HappyJuneteenth ?This is the official Juneteenth Flag. The Juneteenth Flag represents the history and freedom of the American slaves and their descendants. The flag depicts a bursting “new star” on the horizon…a new freedom, a new people ??? The star also represents Texas, the Lone Star State. For it was 1865 in Galveston where union soldiers informed the country’s last remaining enslaved people that under the Emancipation Proclamation (issued two years earlier)?that they were #freeish. The red, white, and blue colors communicate that the American slaves and descendants were/are ALL Americans #juneteenth #historyspeaks #juneteenthflag #freeish??

A post shared by Candice (@candicefjames) on Jun 19, 2020 at 9:15am PDT

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#JuneteenthCelebration – Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. (Juneteenth.com) Photo: The Juneteenth flag commemorates the day that slavery ended in the U.S. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) #Juneteenth #CelebrateJuneteenth #EmancipationProclamation #juneteenthflag

A post shared by Staten Island Advance/SILive (@siadvance) on Jun 19, 2020 at 7:46am PDT