Black American Heritage Flag facts for kids
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Name | BAHF |
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Use | Ethnic Flag |
Proportion | 2:3 or 3:5 |
Adopted | March 1967 |
Design | One diagonal black stripe centered between two red stripes. Superimposed on the black stripe is a blunted sword surrounded by a golden wreath of fig leaves. |
Designed by | Melvin Charles, Gleason T. Jackson |
The Black-American Heritage Flag is also called the African-American Heritage Flag. It is a special flag that shows the culture and history of African-American people. Every color and symbol on the flag has an important meaning. These meanings were chosen to make Black Americans feel proud. They also give hope for the future, especially during their fight for equal rights.
The Story Behind the Flag
This important flag was created in 1967. Two people, Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson, designed it. The idea came to Melvin Charles when he noticed something at parades. He saw that many groups had their own flags, but Black Americans did not.
So, he worked with Gleason T. Jackson to create this flag. After they designed it, they traveled all over the country. They visited churches, schools, and public events. Their goal was to share the flag and its meaning with everyone.
What the Flag Looks Like
The Black American Heritage Flag has specific colors and symbols. Each part tells a story about the history and hopes of African Americans.
- Red: This color stands for the blood that African Americans shed. It represents their sacrifices in the fight for freedom and fairness in America.
- Black: This color shows pride in the black race. It celebrates the strength and heritage of Black people.
- Gold: This color means smartness, success, and peace. It represents a bright future filled with good things.
How the Flag Became Popular
Recently, the Black American Heritage Flag has become very popular again. Many people have rediscovered it through social media. Because of this, you can now see the flag and its colors at many events and places.
For example, in 2021, a famous African-American rapper named Saweetie went to the Met Gala. She wore a special dress that showed the colors of this flag. It also had the colors of the Filipino flag. This showed both parts of her family background. The flag was also worn by Keerah Yeowang at the Ms. United States of America 2022 pageant. She even won the title!