Designed by Lisa Jeanne Graf in 1997, every element of the flag signifies an important part of the holiday. Instead of a straight line dividing the red and blue colors of the flag, they are separated by an arc. This shape is meant to resemble a horizon, symbolizing a hopeful future.
The smaller, white star in the middle is a nod to the Lone Star State, Texas. The state where the last enslaved people were emancipated. The starburst surrounding it is meant to be a new star, symbolizing new beginnings. By mirroring the red-white-and-blue colors found in the U.S. flag, the banner emphasizes that those enslaved were Americans and so are their descendants.
