In honor of Black History Month, Niagara Falls will be lit up with the colors of the Pan-African flag.

According to reporting from WKBW, the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is helping New York celebrate Black History Month by illumiateing Niagara Falls in red, black, and green.

On Saturday, February 13th, the Falls will glow RGB for at least 15 minutes every hour from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

We support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to better telling the undertold stories of African Americans who helped shape our state’s diverse history... During Black History Month in February, I welcome visitors to take advantage of our displays, events, virtual programming and online content, as well as through safe, socially-distanced outdoor visits to our sites related to this important aspect of our common heritage.
-Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

NYS Parks has an entire series of events scheduled in celebration of Black History Month. You can check their entire calendar here on the NYS Parks Website.

The Pan-African Flag, which is sometimes called the Afro-American flag, was designed by Marcus Garvey in the 1920's to be used as a symbol of pride for African-Americans who were unable to trace their lineage back to the country of their origin. According to the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL), the colors of the flag stand for:

  • Red: The blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation;
  • Black: black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag; and
  • Green: the abundant natural wealth of Africa.
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