Melvin Charles & Gleason T. Jackson

In 1967, Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson, two high-spirited friends and visionaries from Newark, New Jersey, realized that while there were flags for different nationalities, there was no official symbol representing the unique history and distinct identity of African Americans.

Determined to address this absence, they researched symbols of history, dignity, and sovereignty. They designed the Black American Heritage Flag with deep intentionality—balancing colors that tell stories of struggle, pride, and hope with symbols of constructive self-respect and victory.

Their ultimate mission was to establish a symbol that would foster a sense of cultural belonging, pride, and historic resilience among Black American families, students, and educators. Today, BlackHeritageFlag.com is dedicated to keeping their profound story, names, and original vision alive.