The Pan-African flag and the Black American Heritage Flag are constantly confused for one another. Here's how to tell them apart — their colors, origins, and what each one truly represents.
They're often mistaken for one another, but the Pan-African flag and the Black American Heritage Flag are two distinct flags — different colors, different origins, and different stories. If you've ever wondered why some red-black flags have green and others have gold, or which one to fly at a Juneteenth cookout or a Black History Month program, this guide breaks it down completely.
The short answer
The Pan-African flag — three horizontal stripes of red, black, and green — represents all people of African descent across the world. It was adopted in 1920 by Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association, and you'll also see it called the UNIA flag, the Afro-American flag, or the Black Liberation flag.
The Black American Heritage Flag — a diagonal black stripe between two red stripes, with a gold sword and fig-leaf wreath — represents the specific history and culture of Black Americans. It was created in 1967 by Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson. Different design, different scope, different origin. The quickest way to tell them apart: if the third color is green, it's Pan-African; if it's gold with an emblem in the center, it's the Black American Heritage Flag.
Side by side
| Pan-African Flag | Black American Heritage Flag | |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Red, black, green | Red, black, gold |
| Design | Three equal horizontal stripes | Diagonal stripes with a central gold sword and wreath |
| Adopted | 1920, New York | 1967, Newark, New Jersey |
| Created by | Marcus Garvey's UNIA | Melvin Charles & Gleason T. Jackson |
| Represents | People of African descent worldwide | Black Americans specifically |
| Also known as | UNIA / Afro-American / Black Liberation flag | Black Heritage flag |
What the Pan-African flag colors mean
The Pan-African flag's colors are often abbreviated as RBG — red, black, and green. Each was chosen to carry a specific meaning:
Red stands for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and the blood shed in the struggle for liberation. Black represents Black people as a people, whose nationhood is affirmed by the very existence of the flag. Green represents the rich, abundant natural wealth of Africa — the land itself.
The flag was adopted in part as a direct response to a popular racist song of the early 1900s that mocked Black people for having no flag of their own. Garvey's answer was to give the diaspora exactly that: a banner of unity and self-determination.
What the Black American Heritage Flag colors mean
The Black American Heritage Flag shares red and black with the Pan-African flag, but interprets them for the Black American experience specifically, and replaces green with gold.
Red represents the blood shed for freedom, justice, and human dignity. Black represents pride in identity and heritage. Gold — carried by both the sword and the fig-leaf wreath at the center — stands for peace, prosperity, and everlasting life.
At the heart of the flag sits a blunted sword: a blade deliberately dulled so it can no longer be drawn for war, symbolizing strength held under control and a turn toward building rather than destroying. It is ringed by a wreath of fig leaves, an emblem of peace and lasting life. Want the full breakdown of every symbol? Read our complete guide to the flag's meaning and colors.
Two different origins
The Pan-African flag was born from a global movement. In 1920, at the Universal Negro Improvement Association's convention in New York, Marcus Garvey's organization adopted it as a unifying banner for the African diaspora. It appeared in the Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World, and it was intended to belong not to a single country but to Black people everywhere.
The Black American Heritage Flag came nearly five decades later, from a more specific need. At the height of the Civil Rights era, Melvin Charles noticed that every group at a parade marched behind a flag except Black Americans — a people with a history found nowhere else on Earth. He felt little connection to the Stars and Stripes given the history it carried, so together with Gleason T. Jackson he researched the language of flags and designed a banner for that particular heritage.
After some early opposition, the flag won the support of the mayor and was officially hoisted at City Hall in Newark, New Jersey, on March 5, 1967. That December, the designers received a letter acknowledging the flag from the office of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Read the full story of how the two friends from Newark created it.
Design and appearance
Beyond color, the two flags look nothing alike, which is the easiest way to identify them at a glance.
The Pan-African flag is a simple, bold tricolor: three horizontal bands of equal height, red on top, black in the middle, green on the bottom. There is no emblem or symbol — its power is in its simplicity, which also makes it instantly reproducible anywhere in the world.
The Black American Heritage Flag is more intricate. A black stripe runs diagonally across a red field, framed by red, and a golden blunted sword encircled by a fig-leaf wreath sits at the center. It's usually shown in a 2:3 or 3:5 proportion. Where the Pan-African flag is a statement of unity through simplicity, the Heritage flag is designed to be read element by element, almost like a lesson.
Which one should you fly?
There's no wrong choice — it depends on what you want to express. The Pan-African flag speaks to global African unity and solidarity across the diaspora, connecting Black Americans to Africa and to Black communities worldwide. The Black American Heritage Flag speaks to the distinct journey and identity of Black Americans specifically — the descendants of those who were enslaved in the United States.
In practice, many people fly both. At Juneteenth celebrations, Black History Month programs, HBCU homecomings, and family reunions, it's common to see the two side by side, each carrying its own part of the story. If you want to honor the worldwide movement, choose the Pan-African flag. If you want to honor a heritage rooted specifically in the Black American experience, choose the Heritage flag. Together, they say both things at once.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Pan-African flag and the Black American Heritage Flag the same?
No. The Pan-African flag has three horizontal red, black, and green stripes and represents people of African descent worldwide. The Black American Heritage Flag has a diagonal design with a gold sword and wreath and represents Black Americans specifically.
What do the Pan-African flag colors mean?
Red is the blood that unites people of African ancestry and was shed for liberation; black represents Black people as a people; green represents the natural wealth of Africa. The three are often abbreviated as RBG.
Who created the Pan-African flag?
It was adopted in 1920 by Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in New York. It's also called the UNIA flag, the Afro-American flag, or the Black Liberation flag.
Who created the Black American Heritage Flag?
It was designed in 1967 by Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson, two friends from Newark, New Jersey, who wanted a flag representing the distinct heritage of Black Americans.
What does the gold sword on the Black American Heritage Flag mean?
The sword is blunted, meaning it can no longer be used for war. It symbolizes strength under control and a turn toward building and cultivation rather than violence.
Which flag is right for Juneteenth or Black History Month?
Both are widely flown at these events. Many people display both — the Pan-African flag for diaspora-wide unity and the Black American Heritage Flag for Black American heritage specifically.