The Black Liberation flag has been around since 1920 when it was designed by Black Nationalist/Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. In explaining the symbolism of the colors, he said:

"Red is the color of the blood which men must shed for their redemption and liberty; Black is the color of the noble and distinguished race to which we belong; Green is the color of the luxuriant vegetation of our Motherland."

It has long been used as the banner for Black Nationalist movements from The New Republic of New Afrika in the 1960s to Black Lives Matter in the 2000s. It has been flown on Black celebrated holidays from Juneteenth to Kwanzaa. It has even been incorporated into the flags of countries such as Kenya and Malawi.

And yet while Apple has created a flag emoji for almost every country in the world, and for movements like Gay Pride (2016) and Transgender Pride  (2020), it's never seen fit to create an emoji for a flag that means so much to such a significant number of people around the world. 

Today -- June 19, 2021 -- is the first time Juneteenth is being celebrated as a federal holiday -- a nationwide recognition of the day that has been a long time coming.

 I choose this day to ask you to sign a petition asking Apple to create an emoji that we can send out on this day -- and every day, every time -- our Black sisters and brothers, and our allies want to wave our flag in celebration or in demand of recognition.