On June 19 , 1865 — two and a one-half years afterAbraham Lincolnissued the Emancipation Proclamation — the last radical of enslaved people in Texas read of their freedom . The United States now celebrates the day of remembrance of the dismissal of Black Americans every year onJuneteenth . When June 19 arrives , you may see a red - and - gloomy banner with a white star in the midsection flying from flagpoles . Since it was created more than two ten ago , the Juneteenth flag has become an authoritative symbol of the holiday .
harmonize toOprah Daily , National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation founder Ben Haith designed an other version of the flag in 1997 . Three years later , creative person Lisa Jeanne Graf revamp the design into the banner people recognise today . The net adult change came in 2007 , when the date “ June 19 , 1865 ” was tot to the side of the pin .
Every element of the flag signifies an important part of the holiday . The top half is red and the bottom one-half is blue . Instead of a straight line divide the two gloss , they are dissever by an arc . This shape is meant to resemble a horizon , symbolizing a promising future for Black Americans .
The smaller , white genius in the center is a nod to the Lone Star State — the state where the last enslaved people were emancipated — as well as the exemption of Black Americans in all 50 states . The starburst surrounding it is meant to be anova , or newfangled genius , symbolizing fresh beginnings . The colors are also important . By mirroring the ruby - white - and - blue colors found in the U.S. flagstone , the standard emphasise that enslaved Black hoi polloi were Americans and so are their descendants .
The first official Juneteenth flag - raising observance was hold in the year 2000 in Boston ’s Roxbury Heritage Park . Today , flag - rearing is one of many style the holiday is observed . Here aremore factsabout Juneteenth .
[ h / tOprah Daily ]
A version of this story originally ran in 2021 ; it has been updated for 2023 .
