You see them every February. Red. Black. Green. Yellow. They're on the sneakers in the Nike "BHM" collection, the banners at the local library, and the Google Doodle that pops up on your phone. Most people just assume they represent "Africa" and move on with their day. But if you actually stop and look at the history of Black History Month colors, you'll realize it isn't just a random design choice. It's basically a political statement that has been evolving for over a century.
Red, black, and green aren't just colors. They are a flag. Specifically, the Pan-African flag.
The 1920s origin story of the Pan-African flag
Back in 1920, Marcus Garvey was frustrated. Garvey, who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), noticed that every race and nation had a flag except for Black people. He once famously remarked that a people without a flag is a people without a certain kind of dignity. So, at the UNIA convention in New York City, they formally adopted the Red, Black, and Green.
It wasn't just about aesthetics. It was a direct response to a popular racist song of the era that mocked the idea of Black people having a "patriotic" color. Garvey flipped the script. He didn't just pick colors that looked nice; he picked colors that told a story about struggle and sovereignty.
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Red is the blood. It’s the blood shed by Africans who died in their fight for liberation and the blood that unites all people of African ancestry. It's a heavy start, but it's the foundation. Black is the people. It’s the physical color of the skin of those the flag represents. Green? That’s the land. It’s the lush, natural wealth of Africa—the "motherland" that Garvey and his followers wanted to reclaim from colonial powers.
Why did yellow suddenly show up in the mix?
You’ve probably noticed that a lot of modern Black History Month designs include a bright, sunny yellow or gold. If you look at the Pan-African flag, it’s not there. So where did it come from?
The answer lies in the 1950s and 60s. As African nations started breaking away from European colonial rule, they needed their own flags. Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence in 1957. The designer of Ghana’s flag, Theodosia Okoh, kept the red and green but swapped the black stripe for a yellow one with a black star in the middle.
This "Ethiopian" color palette—red, yellow, and green—became the gold standard (literally) for independence movements across the continent. Ethiopia had never been fully colonized, so its flag served as a beacon of hope for everyone else. When you see Black History Month colors today, they are often a mashup of Garvey's UNIA flag and these later independence colors. It’s a visual shorthand for both the diaspora in America and the continental struggle in Africa.
The psychological power of the palette
Colors aren't just visual; they're emotional. When brands or community organizers use these specific hues, they are tapping into a specific frequency of memory and identity.
Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating how these colors have shifted from radical political symbols to mainstream marketing tools. In the 1960s, wearing these colors could get you targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO operations. Now, you can buy a red, black, and green yoga mat at Target. That transition says a lot about how Black history has been integrated—and sometimes diluted—into the broader American narrative.
But even with the commercialization, the core meaning sticks. These colors act as a visual "hello" to people who understand the history. It's a way of signaling belonging without saying a single word.
Beyond the "Big Four" colors
While red, black, green, and yellow dominate, there’s a growing trend to include other tones. Some contemporary artists are pulling in purples and deep oranges. Why? Because Black history isn't a monolith.
The standard Black History Month colors are powerful, but they represent a specific Pan-Africanist lens. Younger designers often want to represent the Caribbean, the Afro-Latinx experience, or the specific "Black Americana" aesthetic which might lean more into the blues of the Mississippi Delta or the browns of the Great Migration.
If you’re wondering why certain organizations use different shades, it’s usually because they are trying to be more inclusive of the entire diaspora. The African continent has 54 countries. Each has its own history. Using just three colors can sometimes feel a bit limiting, though they remain the most recognizable symbols of unity.
How to use these colors without it feeling like "pandering"
If you’re a creator or a business owner trying to figure out how to handle Black History Month colors, you’ve gotta be careful. People can smell "performative allyship" from a mile away.
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Just slapping a red and green border on your social media posts doesn't mean much if the content isn't there. Real expertise in this area means understanding that the colors are a vessel for the history, not the history itself.
- Context is everything. Don't just use the colors because it’s February. Explain why you’re using them. If you’re designing something, maybe include a small caption about the 1920 UNIA convention or the independence of Ghana.
- Support the creators. If you’re buying decorations or clothes in these colors, try to find Black-owned businesses. It’s a bit ironic to celebrate Black history by buying mass-produced goods that don't benefit the community the colors represent.
- Check your shades. The "Pan-African" red is usually a very bold, primary red. The green is a deep, forest green. Using neon versions of these colors can make the design look cheap or disconnected from the historical source material.
The impact on modern design and fashion
Fashion has arguably done the most to keep these colors in the public eye. Think about the iconic "Dashiki" movements of the 70s. Or more recently, the "Black Panther" movie premiere red carpets where actors wore these specific shades as a nod to their heritage.
Even in 2026, we see high-end streetwear brands using the Black History Month colors to create high-concept collections. It’s a way of reclaiming space in an industry that has historically excluded Black designers. When a designer like Virgil Abloh or Kerby Jean-Raymond used these palettes, they weren't just making clothes; they were referencing a century of resistance.
What most people get wrong about the yellow stripe
There's a common misconception that the yellow in Black History Month themes represents "sunshine" or "happiness." While that’s a nice thought, it’s factually incomplete. In the context of the African flags that inspired this palette, the yellow specifically represents the mineral wealth of the land—the gold, the diamonds, and the natural resources that were often the target of colonial exploitation.
Including yellow is actually a subtle nod to the economic potential and the stolen labor of the continent. It’s a lot more "real" than just a sunny vibe.
Actionable ways to engage with the history
If you want to go deeper than just looking at the banners this month, there are a few things you can actually do to understand the weight of these symbols.
Start by reading up on the 1920 Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World. It’s the document where the red, black, and green were first "officially" minted. It’s a tough read in parts because of the era it was written in, but it’s the primary source.
Next, look at the flags of Kenya, South Africa, and Malawi. Notice the patterns? You’ll see the red, black, and green repeated over and over. South Africa’s "Rainbow Flag" is a great example of how these colors were merged with others to signal a new, post-apartheid era.
Finally, look at your own local community. How are these colors being used in murals or community centers? Often, there’s a local artist behind those choices who has a very specific reason for the shades they picked. Talk to them.
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The colors of Black History Month aren't just a seasonal theme. They are a living, breathing record of a global movement for dignity. When you see them, don't just see a color scheme. See the blood, the people, the land, and the wealth that they were designed to protect.
To really put this into practice, look at your own projects or workplace. Instead of just adding a "BHM" logo, consider highlighting a different African or Diaspora flag each week of February. It forces people to move past the generic "red-black-green" and actually look at the diversity of the cultures involved. It turns a passive visual into an active learning moment. Check out the archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture if you want to see the original UNIA documents—they have some incredible digitized resources that show these colors in their original, gritty context.