Flag pays tribute to Black contributions, history

On Feb. 11, Southwestern College raised the Pan-African flag honoring Black History Month at the college’s corner of H Street and Otay Lakes Road after an initial ceremony at the Performing Arts Center. Hosted by the Southwestern College Black Alliance, the event commemorated Black History Month and honored the positive contributions of African Americans everywhere, including students, staff, and faculty at Southwestern College. The event included speeches, music, and dance performances.

The Pan-African flag was created in 1920 by Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey. Each color holds significance: Red stands for the blood uniting all black people around the world, black honors black skin and indicates strength, green represents the abundance of Africa’s vegetation. The flag was designed to represent those who belong to the African Diaspora and provide a symbol for black liberation in the United States.