- A Juneteenth flag was created in 1997 that included the colours pink, white and blue.
- Many Black folks rejoice Juneteenth with a flag that’s pink, black and inexperienced.
- Some social media customers referred to as out a Virginia metropolis for merging July 4th and Juneteenth holidays and solely utilizing pink, white and blue decorations.
Juneteenth represents independence for Black folks, and since its recognition as a federal vacation in June 2021, the vacation – in addition to its flag – has ignited conversations surrounding how folks rejoice it.
One such dialog occurred in Newport Information, Virginia, this week when a handful of Fb customers referred to as out town for merging July 4th and Juneteenth decorations. A metropolis worker hid social media feedback on the submit that pushed again towards the transfer earlier than town restored them.
Juneteenth, set in place as a federal vacation only recently, has a lot of nuances that can have to be labored out within the coming years amongst each Black folks and the bigger group, mentioned Tim Goler, an assistant professor of sociology and concrete affairs at Norfolk State College and analysis director on the Middle for African American Public Coverage.
Right here some issues to remember.
A pink, inexperienced and black flag or pink, white, and blue?
Juneteenth is well known on June 19 and commemorates the date wherein Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger advised group members in Galveston, Texas about President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
The proclamation was issued to free enslaved Black folks in secessionist states on January 1, 1863, however information of the change was relayed practically 2½ years in a while June 19, 1865. Enslavers had been tasked with telling enslaved folks they had been free, however some selected to not.
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth Nationwide Independence Day Act, establishing June 19 as a federal vacation.
Juneteenth is named Independence Day for Black folks, Goler mentioned.
Most Black folks rejoice Juneteenth with a pink, inexperienced and black flag, just like the Pan-African Flag or the Black Liberation Flag, he mentioned.
The unique Juneteenth flag was designed in 1997 by Ben Haith, activist and founding father of the Nationwide Juneteenth Celebration Basis. The flag has a blue and pink stripe, a white star within the center, a top level view and an arc that extends throughout the width of the flag.
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Goler: Celebrating July 4 and Juneteenth collectively is ‘disrespectful’
Some cities have chosen to rejoice Juneteenth and July 4th collectively utilizing pink, white and blue colours, which does not sit effectively with some Black folks.
Goler, from Norfolk State College, mentioned the problem is way more sophisticated than pink, white, blue, black and inexperienced.
“You’ve this municipality problem versus group,” he mentioned. “It is true Ben Haith designed and patented this Juneteenth flag in 1997 … However in case you simply do a easy Google search and also you Google Juneteenth, and also you simply click on photos and also you scroll so far as you’ll be able to, (many of the) colours are going to be pink, black and inexperienced.”
Goler mentioned that whereas he thanks Haith for creating the pink, white and blue Juneteenth flag, even Haith himself mentioned the aim of selecting the colours was as a result of he needed it to function a reminder that Black People who descended from slavery are People.
However to some Black folks, the American flag doesn’t signify freedom, equality and liberty, Goler mentioned.
Simply have a look at the failures of Reconstruction, Jim Crow legal guidelines, voting rights, mass shootings, in addition to “the continued inequities and discriminations towards Black those that we cope with every day,” he advised USA TODAY.
He additionally mentioned the U.S. flag has been intentionally weaponized and redefined as a conservative image, “owned by some People and never others.”
“You’ll be able to see why cities would (use the 1997 flag),” Goler mentioned. “Some cities will use the pink, white and blue colours as a result of they’ve a constituency bigger than simply African People they’re attempting to appease. Numerous instances, (utilizing pink, black and inexperienced) may trigger issues, however in case you have a look at most community-based organizations, just about each single Black group, all of them use pink, black and inexperienced.”
Goler additionally mentioned celebrating July 4 and Juneteenth collectively is “unwise,” “disrespectful” and an “oxymoron” as a result of July 4th commemorates the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776.
“Black folks had been nonetheless slaves in 1776,” he mentioned. “You’ve got simply obtained to do your analysis, look out on this planet and see what we actually use. The Pan-African Flag actually is essentially the most applicable flag for Juneteenth. It is the Black Liberation flag and it was designed to signify folks of the African diaspora. That is why we name ourselves African American. We acknowledge the diaspora in our id. That flag additionally symbolizes Black freedom.”
Juneteenth and the way it’s celebrated has turn into a political problem and localities that attempt to rejoice it with different holidays try to play each fingers, he mentioned.
“They’ve to determine how they appease not simply Black folks, however the bigger group,” he mentioned. “(The 1997 flag) works to their profit. They will guarantee that they squelch any sort of opposition to celebrating or commemorating a Black vacation.”
He confused that racism has not been abolished like some folks imagine.
“We have got lots of work to do,” Goler mentioned. “Freedom is one factor; equality is sort of one other.”
Controversy in Virginia
The dialogue about how you can honor Juneteenth got here to gentle this week in Virginia, which designated it as a state vacation in 2020.
Social media customers referred to as out town of Newport Information for merging July 4th and Juneteenth decorations.
In response, a metropolis worker hid social media feedback on the submit that pushed again towards the transfer, however the feedback had been restored Thursday morning.
Metropolis spokesperson Kim Lee mentioned the feedback on the submit had been “hidden by a employees member who mustn’t have completed that.”
“The feedback have now been unhidden,” she advised USA TODAY Thursday.
Metropolis officers posted in regards to the decorations on Fb Wednesday. The submit included a photograph of town’s signature “LOVE NN,” decorations donned in pink, white and blue flowers.
“The Love NN letters at the moment are decked out in pink, white, and blue for the summer time honoring each Juneteenth and the Fourth of July,” the unique submit learn.
Log into Fb
On Wednesday and Thursday, a minimum of 14 social media customers criticized Newport Information officers for his or her submit claiming that pink, white and blue signify each July 4th and Juneteenth.
Some argued that the colours weren’t reflective of the Juneteenth vacation.
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The town commented on the submit to handle the backlash.
“We’ve seen lots of issues over the colours of those letters not representing Juneteenth precisely and wish to deal with the confusion,” the remark learn. “The pink, white, and blue colour scheme comes from the Juneteenth flag, created by Ben Haith in 1997. You’ll have seen this flag across the metropolis as we’re honoring Juneteenth this week.”
One of many updates to the Fb submit learn “These colours signify not solely the American flag, however the official Juneteenth flag as effectively, created in 1997.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW staff. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all issues horror, witches, Christmas, and meals. Comply with her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or electronic mail her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
