Red Black Green Flag of Black Liberation History and Meaning
Colors of Africa
History of the Red, Black and Green Black Liberation Flag
The Pan-African flag or Black Liberation Flag is a tricolor flag consisting of three equal horizontal bands colored red, black and green. Marcus Garvey in response to the 1900 coon song created the Pan-African flag in 1920.
The three colors on
the Black Liberation flag represent red for the blood that unites all people of
Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation, black for the people of Black
African ancestry and green for the abundant natural wealth of Africa.
Marcus Garvey, a
founding member and former president of the Universal Negro Improvement
Association and African Communities League (UNIA) created the Pan-African flag
in 1920 in response to the 1900 song "Every Race Has a Flag but the
Coon." The song was written by Will A. Heelan and J. Fred Helf was very
popular in the United States and Britain.
Song chorus for Every
Race Has a Flag but the Coon
For
Ireland has her Harp and Shamrock
England
floats her Lion bold
Even
China waves a Dragon
Germany
an Eagle gold
Bonny
Scotland loves a Thistle
Turkey
has her Crescent Moon
And
what won’t Yankees do for their Red, White and Blue
Every
race has a flag but the coon
Marcus Garvey response to the coon song
A 1921 report appearing in the Africa Times and Orient Review, Marcus Garvey stated on the importance of the flag “Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride.
Aye! In song and mimicry, they have said, "Every race has a flag but the coon." How true! Aye! But that was said of us years ago. They can't say it now!"
The three colors on the Pan-African flag represent red for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and shed for liberation, black for the people of Black African ancestry and green for the abundant natural wealth of Africa.