You’ve probably seen it waving at a protest, draped over a porch in Brooklyn, or maybe as a small enamel pin on a lapel. It looks familiar, yet jarring. It has the stripes. It has the stars. But the colors are all "wrong." Instead of the standard red, white, and blue, you’re looking at a red green black American flag.
It’s not a mistake. It’s also not just a "remix" for the sake of aesthetics.
To understand this specific flag, you have to look at the collision of two very different histories. On one hand, you have the traditional United States flag—the "Old Glory" designed in 1777. On the other, you have the Pan-African flag, created by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1920. When those two designs merge into one, it creates a powerful, sometimes controversial symbol of African American identity and dual consciousness. It basically says, "I am here, and I am also from there."
Why the Red Green Black American Flag Exists
The most famous version of this flag was actually created by an artist, not a government body. In 1990, David Hammons created African-American Flag. He took the standard 50-star American layout and swapped the colors for the Pan-African palette.
Why?
Because being Black in America is complicated.
The red, green, and black colors weren't chosen at random by Garvey back in the day. They have specific, heavy meanings. Red represents the blood shed by Africans who died in the fight for liberation. Black represents the people themselves. Green represents the lush, natural wealth of the African continent. By overlaying these colors onto the American stars and stripes, the flag forces a conversation about belonging. It asks if the American promise includes the people represented by those Pan-African colors.
Honestly, it’s a visual representation of what W.E.B. Du Bois called "double consciousness." It's that feeling of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others. You're American, but you're also Black, and historically, those two things haven't always sat comfortably together in the same frame.
The Artist Behind the Movement
David Hammons is kind of a legend in the art world for being elusive. He doesn't do much press. He doesn't play the usual gallery games. But his 1990 flag became an instant icon.
When he debuted it at the "Black Art: Ancestral Legacy" exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art, it wasn't just "art." It was a political statement. He wanted to give Black Americans a symbol that acknowledged their specific heritage within the American structure.
✨ Don't miss: Why T. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre Still Dominates the Tampa Event Scene
Interestingly, while Hammons made the most famous version, you’ll see variations of the red green black American flag all over the place now. Some versions use the "Pan-African" red, black, and green in different configurations. Some keep the white stars; others turn the stars green or black.
The core idea remains: reclaiming the American identity.
Breaking Down the Symbolism
If you look closely at the flag, the black stripes usually replace the white ones, or sometimes the red ones. In the most common "Hammons" style:
- The stripes are red and black.
- The field (the canton) is green.
- The stars are black.
This inversion is a total flip of the script. Traditionally, white in the US flag stands for purity and innocence. By removing the white entirely, the flag centers the Black experience and the struggle for equity. It’s a loud way of saying that the history of the United States cannot be told without the history of the African diaspora.
Controversy and the Flag Code
People get heated about flags. That’s just a fact.
The United States Flag Code has some pretty specific rules about what you can and can't do to the flag. Technically, the Code says the flag should never have any "mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature" placed upon it.
But here’s the thing: The Flag Code isn't really enforceable law in the way people think it is. The Supreme Court made that clear in Texas v. Johnson (1989), ruling that flag desecration—or modification—is protected speech under the First Amendment.
Critics often argue that changing the colors of the American flag is disrespectful. You’ve seen similar arguments regarding the "Thin Blue Line" flag or the Rainbow Pride American flag. Supporters of the red green black American flag argue the exact opposite. They see it as an act of deep patriotism—an attempt to see themselves reflected in the national symbol.
It's about visibility. If you don't see yourself in the red, white, and blue, you make a version where you finally do.
🔗 Read more: Human DNA Found in Hot Dogs: What Really Happened and Why You Shouldn’t Panic
The Rise in Popularity Since 2020
While Hammons’ flag has been in museums like the MoMA for decades, the general public started seeing the red green black American flag way more often during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
It became a shorthand for a specific kind of activism.
It wasn't just about protesting police brutality; it was about asserting a cultural presence. You started seeing the flag on t-shirts, digital avatars, and mural backdrops. It served as a bridge between the Civil Rights movements of the 60s (which heavily used the original Garvey Pan-African flag) and the modern era.
It's also worth noting that this flag is different from the Juneteenth flag. The Juneteenth flag is red, white, and blue with a bursting star in the middle. The red green black American flag is much more tied to the concept of Black Nationalism and the global Pan-African movement.
Where You’ll See It Today
- Museums: The original Hammons flags are highly prized pieces of contemporary art.
- Community Centers: In many predominantly Black neighborhoods, this flag flies as a sign of cultural pride.
- Political Rallies: It’s often used by speakers who focus on issues of racial justice and systemic reform.
- Pop Culture: It has appeared in music videos, films like Black Panther (in color palettes and subtle nods), and television shows that explore the Black American experience.
The Difference Between This and the Pan-African Flag
Don't confuse the two.
The Pan-African flag (also known as the Marcus Garvey flag or the UNIA flag) is three horizontal stripes: Red, Black, and Green. No stars. No "American" layout.
The Pan-African flag was created in 1920 specifically as a response to the racist "Coon Chicken" songs and memorabilia of the time. Garvey famously said, "Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride."
The red green black American flag is a hybrid. It acknowledges the American reality. It says, "I am here in the US, paying taxes, voting, and living, but my roots and my struggle are tied to this other color palette."
It’s a more localized symbol than the Garvey flag. It’s specifically for the American context.
💡 You might also like: The Gospel of Matthew: What Most People Get Wrong About the First Book of the New Testament
What Most People Get Wrong
A big misconception is that this flag is "anti-American."
If you talk to the people who fly it, they’ll usually tell you it’s the opposite. It’s a demand for America to live up to its creed. It’s an inclusionary act, even if it uses exclusionary colors to make its point.
Another mistake is thinking it’s a "new" thing. While it trended recently, we’re talking about a design that is over 30 years old, rooted in a color scheme that is over 100 years old.
Actionable Insights for Using or Displaying the Flag
If you’re thinking about buying or displaying a red green black American flag, or if you’re just trying to be a more informed observer, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Understand the context. This isn't just a "cool design." It carries the weight of the UNIA, the Black Power movement, and decades of contemporary art history. Flying it is a statement. Be ready to explain what that statement means to you if people ask.
Respect the artist's legacy. If you’re a collector, look into David Hammons. Understanding his body of work—which often uses "found objects" like hair from barbershops or grease—gives you a much deeper appreciation for why he chose to "reconstruct" the American flag.
Recognize the difference. Ensure you know the distinction between this flag, the standard Pan-African flag, and the Juneteenth flag. Using the wrong one in the wrong context can sometimes lead to confusion in community spaces.
Support Black creators. If you are purchasing a flag or apparel featuring this design, try to source it from Black-owned businesses or artists who understand the cultural significance of the colors.
The red green black American flag is more than just a piece of fabric. It’s a complex, vibrating symbol of a people who have spent centuries defining what it means to be both "African" and "American" at the same time. Whether you see it as art, a political tool, or a symbol of pride, its presence in the American landscape is a testament to the ongoing evolution of our national identity.
To learn more about the specific history of the Pan-African movement that informed these colors, you can research the 1920 Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World, which officially adopted the red, black, and green. Understanding that foundation makes the modern "remix" of the stars and stripes much more meaningful.