Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, or Jubilee Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday traces its origins to June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free following the U.S. Civil War—and two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
For more than a century and a half, African American communities across the country have honored Juneteenth through a variety of traditions. Celebrations often include parades, rodeos, community festivals, family gatherings, and meals featuring red foods and beverages, which hold special cultural significance.
The Juneteenth flag is one of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday. The flag's colors and design elements carry rich symbolism that reflects liberation, resilience, and hope for the future.
Activist Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF), created the Juneteenth flag in 1997 in collaboration with Verlene Hines, Azim and Eliot Design. Their work subsequently cemented the holiday in the minds of all Americans and solidified the flag as an undying symbol of liberty and freedom for African Americans.
What do the colors and symbols of the Juneteenth flag represent?
The flag’s colors — red, white, and blue — were deliberately chosen by Haith to demonstrate that even throughout enslavement, African Americans were always American. Some experts say the red on the flag also represents the blood shed on the journey to freedom. And the flag’s design is just as symbolic.
- The curved surface on the flag represents a new horizon and possibilities for African Americans.
- The flag is emblazoned with a star, a callback to the U.S. flag, demonstrating Black people are free in all 50 states and a nod to Texas, “The Lone Star State.”
- The star is surrounded by a burst, representing new opportunities ahead for Black people.
- The date “June 19, 1865” was added in 2004 so no one would ever forget what the flag stood for.
It’s also common to see the red, black, and green Pan-African flag at Juneteenth celebrations. According to the Pan-African Alliance, the three colors represent the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.
While Juneteenth is a celebration of Black freedom, the holiday isn't just for the Black community, explains Barbara Krauthamer, Ph.D., historian and Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
“Juneteenth gives people an opportunity to reflect on what it means to live in a country and in communities that say we value individual rights, we value freedom, we value freedom of the press and freedom of speech,” says Dr. Krauthamer. “And if we value that, we need to value that for everybody.”
Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, provides an opportunity for all Americans to put Black culture at the center of their perspective for a day and to think about the richness and complexity of African American history: both the history of slavery and emancipation and the history of how Black people not only survived slavery but built and developed thriving cultures and communities that endured.
As we look back in reverence and celebrate the present, it’s just as important to look forward to imagine a more inclusive and equitable world for us all. For Dr. Krauthamer, this bright future steeped in freedom lies with our youth.
“Freedom looks like having the opportunity and ability to ask questions, to pursue knowledge and to advocate for change,” she says. “Being able to send my children to school and know they are able to ask questions and not be dismissed because of what they look like: that’s what freedom looks like now.”
Diego Wyatt is the lead brand strategy lead for One North, crafting compelling stories that cut through the static. As a creative director, he is committed to creating forward brand experiences for clients in the arts and entertainment sector.
