On August 6, 1962, Jamaica adopted its national flag in celebration of its independence from the British-protected Federation of the West Indies. For most nationals, the flag represents the free spirit of the new nation, its culture, and its hope. This article will answer some of the most puzzling questions about the emblem and its colours.
- Why does the flag not contain red, white, or blue?
- Who created the Jamaican national flag?
- What do the colors represent, and how has it weathered cultural changes?
The national flag of Jamaica contains three colors – black, green, and gold- where the gold forms a saltire that divides it into four sections. Seen from a distance, the flag seems to bear four triangles divided by a golden X. The top and bottom triangles are green while the two sides (host and fly angles) are black.
Why does the Flag not contain red, white, or blue?
The Jamaican flag is the only flag in the world that does not entail shades of red, white, and blue. Even the oldest African flags have some inclusion of one or more of these three colors. So why did the founding fathers decide to leave these colors out?
The short answer is that the Jamaicans wanted to be completely free of any British influence, including the old Union Jack and its colors. To understand more, here is a brief history.
The story goes way back in the country’s early history. In 1685 he British invaded Jamaica and successfully colonized. However, Jamaica remained under slavery for another two hundred years. It was not until 1838 that the island became free.
Nonetheless, this was not good news. While the islanders were free to live a normal life, they had no political input. Britain still governed the people. The battles for democracy continued for another century, until 1962, when the country won its independence.
By then, no one on the small island wanted reminders of the Red Cross Army and its flag. The country chose colors that would never remind them of slavery or colonization under British rule.
Who created the Jamaican national flag?
The Jamaican flag was created by a bipartisan committee in 1962. But that is just the very short version of what really happened. Here is the true story of the ‘Cross’.
In September 1961, the Jamaican government announced a national competition inviting the most talented people to design the new flag. The contest would last until March 1962, nd the winning entry would win the prize of £100.
According to the National Library of Jamaica, some 365 entries were received, showing the great national spirit at the time. However, at the end of the evaluation, no clear winner emerged. This forced the government to seek alternative solutions.
The big problem was a lack of time. They needed to have the fla ready by August 1962. It was at that point that they chose a bipartisan committee that created the final design. The result was the pride of the Jamaican people, black, green, and gold.
What do the colors represent, and how has it weathered cultural changes?
When the national flag design competition failed to identify a clear winner, the government created a special committee. Discarding more than 360 designs submitted during the competition, the committee created the original concept.
The initial design had horizontal stripes, but it made the flag overly similar to the flag of Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania).
This led the committee to introduce the saltire. At the time of its creation, May 22, 1962, the colors of the flag represented the underlying struggle of the people and their hope. According to the Jamaica National Library, “hardships there are, but the land is green and the sun shineth.”
- The color gold identifies the shining sun,
- Black recalls the hardships,
- And green represents the land.
However, this early concept was adjusted in 1996 by the committee to Examine National Symbols and National Observances. The current meaning of the colors reflects the emerging growth of Jamaica as a global player. These are the updated meanings of the colors of Jamaican national flag.
- Black now represents the strength and creativity of the people.
- Gold reflects the wealth and resources of the country.
- The green showcases the lush vegetation of the island and the hope of its people.
These changes were made during February 1996 by a committee appointed to review and report on Jamaica’s National Symbols and Observances.
The Jamaican national flag is a cherished emblem of its people, expressing the intrinsic values of both the island and its history. Over six decades of winds have ruffled its colors, but it remains the flag of a free and progressing people
wpDiscuz