Pan African Flag Raised Over Downtown Buffalo For Juneteenth [PICS]

As we inch closer to June 19th, the celebrations that will lead us to Juneteenth are starting to ramp up all over the nation. In Buffalo, which is home to the largest Juneteenth celebration in the United States, the major festivities kicked off on Monday, June 8, 2026, when nearly 100 people gathered in downtown Buffalo for a joyous occasion.

With Buffalo on the verge of honoring the 50th anniversary of its Juneteenth Parade, festival, and celebration, several members of the community and various dignitaries met in Niagara Square to raise the flag to honor Juneteenth, New York's and America's newest holiday.

Members of the original Juneteenth Committee that collaborated in 1976 to hold the first Juneteenth celebration were on hand to raise the Pan-African flag in downtown Buffalo to officially kick off Juneteenth week.

Why Is The Pan-African Flag Flown For Juneteenth

Originally created in 1920 by Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association, the Pan-African Flag has three colors that are meant to represent the core tenets of Black liberation in America:

• Red: The blood that unites people of Black African ancestry and the blood shed in the fight for liberation.
• Black: The people of the African diaspora, honoring their skin and shared racial identity.
• Green: The abundant natural wealth, growth, and prosperity of Africa, the Motherland

Because of the long and complicated history that Black people have in the United States, the flag is flown to help symbolize unity, heritage, and the continued fight for liberation and equality.

Events Are Scheduled All Month To Celebrate Juneteenth

While the Juneteenth holiday is officially on June 19th, there are events all month long to help people learn more about the holiday and celebrate it in style. You can find more about the schedule of events here on the Juneteenth of Buffalo website.