June 17, 2026 • 7 mins
Everybody celebrates Juneteenth, but almost nobody knows the name Ben Haith—the activist who created the official Juneteenth flag. This episode explores who he was, why the flag is red, white, and blue instead of Pan-African colors, and how one man created a symbol that now flies across America.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I welcome back nor.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
It alls to another episode of the most anticipated podcast
on the Black Effect Podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Network, entitled I didn't Know.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Maybe you didn't either. I'm your host b Dots Back
in the Saddle. After a very very very busy weekend.
First of all, big shouts to the Baby Man. The
Baby brought his Be More Grateful Festival to Charlotte, and
the powers that be was really trying to shut that
joint down up until the day of the event. They're
just trying to paint this picture of it being a
lot of violence and a lot of problems, and it
(00:33):
wasn't no issues. Well, if I'm being honest, about fifty
people got knocked out. One of those people got knocked
out by security, but the other forty nine people got
knocked out by the sun. When I tell you it
was hot as a spoon at lamar Odom's house out there,
I mean that one hundred degrees. I drank thirty bottles
of water and didn't go to the bathroom one time.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Why because I sweated all out.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
But everybody showed up just like they said they would,
except for one Walker Floka for whatever reason. But ever
since he been sharing his political side, I ain't really trusted.
Walker Flocker had to say no ways but Feedti p Trap,
Dickie Belly Gange, Cushington, Pluto, Bonna b Yk, Nice, Big
Boogi aka Big Dude, Boosy Webbby Trick and Trina Money
(01:19):
Bag Yo Young Miami Power ninety eight. We was all
out there hosting, big shouting, my brother CDK, and then
of course the Baby finished the show in the headliner position.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
If there's anybody that's ever.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Been canceled and then bounced back like round ball, it's
that boy to Baby and he put on for the
City of Charlotte. And then the next day I had
the second installment of my five part Sunset on the
Lake series.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
One hundred professionals on the yachts.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
We had the jet skis out there, we had the
water toys out there. My girl von Yeta was setting
the tone, my girl Strawberry was hosting. Dodger Star was
on the media listen. We got three more Sunset on
the Lake dates. If you in the seven o four,
it ain't no better experience on Lake Norman. Sunset on
the Lake dot Com for your tickets.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
We even got a jinger for it.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Sunset on the League dot Com, sunset on the League
dot Com.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
For your ticket in. But now all roads lead to Juneteenth.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
You know, we celebrating As a matter of fact, it's
black Boat week Juneteenth weekend. They say Chicago gonna be
off the chains. But me and my brother Jay Lee
or we started our own boat rental company, BJ's Rentals,
cause it sucks when you don't have a boat, And
we got about seventeen boats that were putting out on
the lake this weekend. If you need tickets, hit me
(02:38):
on social media B dot tv and I can direct you.
But while we're gonna be in the water having a
good time Juneteenth weekend, we also gonna be celebrating that
faithful day June nineteenth, eighteen sixty five.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And to be honest, man, everybody.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Celebrates Juneteenth where we're starting to, but almost nobody knows
the name Ben Hayth, the actual activist who created the
official Juneteenth flag.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
So this episode explores who he was while.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
The flag is what it is, and how one man
created a symbol that now flies across America.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
But at first, I have to give you three.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Of the most useless facts you'll never need ever, not
a day in life about Juneteenth.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Up first, the very first.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Juneteenth flag didn't appear until the year I graduated from
high school nineteen ninety seven. Y'all, that's one hundred and
thirty two years after Juneteenth itself. Let that sink in
your second useless fact. June teenth became a federal holiday
just five years ago, man, when sleepy Joe Biden had
(03:44):
to sign legislation that recognized it nationwide. While Obama didn't
make Juneteenth the federal holiday. I digress, and your third
useless fact, the creator of the Juneteenth flag is an
army vet, a former advertising professional, and a community activist
named Ben Hath. Were you familiar with this, gentleman, because
(04:05):
I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I didn't know.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
I didn't know. I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
So today's episode of I Didn't Know, maybe you didn't either,
start with a question, if June tenth is so important,
who designed the flag? But the answer you already know
by now is a man named Ben Hat, also known
as Boston Ben. Now, let me give you some homework
on being His full name is Hasseie Benjamin Hath, Junior,
and he was born in Connecticut.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
He served in the Army.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
He worked in advertising and marketing and later became a
community activist in Boston, and he spent years promoting Juneteenth
before bost of America had even heard of it. In
nineteen ninety seven, Boston Being founded the National June teenth
Celebration Foundation, and he realized something. Every major movement got
a symbol. Countries got flags, states got flags, cities got flags.
(05:04):
Why June teeth ain't got no flags, So he designed one.
Now here's where people get confused, cause most folk assume
Juneteenth is an African holiday and it ain't. June teenth
is a Black American holiday. Again, if you're just catching
up the speed. June teenth commemorates June nineteenth, eighteen sixty five,
when the Union troops pulled up in Galveston, Texas and
(05:27):
told the last enslaved black people in Texas.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
You are free, man.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
That's an American event on American soil, involving your American citizens.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
That's why the.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Flag ain't red, black and green like the Pan African flag,
but it's red, white and blue because it's American history. Hey, yeah,
Boston Being intentionally used those colors of the American flag
to make that statement. Black folks ain't outsiders to the
American story.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
We are the American story.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
The descendants of enslaved people are Americans, and the June
teenth flag reflects that. Now, let's break down the symbols.
You got a white star that represents Texas, the lone
star state where June teenth began, but it also supposed
to represent freedom spreading beyond Texas to black Americans in
all fifty states. Now that star burst around the star
(06:17):
that's called a nova, and a nova is a new
star appearing in the sky Boston being used it to
symbolize a new beginning, the birth of freedom, a new
chapter for Black Americans. And then there's an arc, that
curved line that's cutting across the flag that ain't random.
It's meant to represent a new horizon, a future beyond slavery,
a future fear with possibility. And then June nineteenth, eighteen
(06:40):
sixty five. That date was added later so nobody would
forget exactly what that flag represents, not just freedom in theory,
freedom that was announced in Texas on June nineteenth, eighteen
sixty five.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
So why is this the June teenth flag?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Simple being hate wasn't appointed by the government, he wasn't
elected by no committee. He spent years years organizing June
teenth celebrations nationally founded one of the leading Juneteenth organizations
in the country, designed a flag, promoted it relentlessly, and
communities eventually adopted it. Over time, it became recognized as
the symbol of the holiday. In other words, we chose
(07:20):
it the people, and then America follows.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Today.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That flag flys at city halls, state capitals, schools, businesses,
sporting events, federal buildings all across the country, and every
single time it does, it tells a story. And that
story ain't just about emancipation, but about a man named
Boston ben Hate who believed that Juneteenth deserved a symbol
powerful enough to last for generations.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
And he did just that. And I didn't know. Maybe
you didn't either,
I welcome back nor.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
It alls to another episode of the most anticipated podcast
on the Black Effect Podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Network, entitled I didn't Know.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Maybe you didn't either. I'm your host b Dots Back
in the Saddle. After a very very very busy weekend.
First of all, big shouts to the Baby Man. The
Baby brought his Be More Grateful Festival to Charlotte, and
the powers that be was really trying to shut that
joint down up until the day of the event. They're
just trying to paint this picture of it being a
lot of violence and a lot of problems, and it
(00:33):
wasn't no issues. Well, if I'm being honest, about fifty
people got knocked out. One of those people got knocked
out by security, but the other forty nine people got
knocked out by the sun. When I tell you it
was hot as a spoon at lamar Odom's house out there,
I mean that one hundred degrees. I drank thirty bottles
of water and didn't go to the bathroom one time.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Why because I sweated all out.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
But everybody showed up just like they said they would,
except for one Walker Floka for whatever reason. But ever
since he been sharing his political side, I ain't really trusted.
Walker Flocker had to say no ways but Feedti p Trap,
Dickie Belly Gange, Cushington, Pluto, Bonna b Yk, Nice, Big
Boogi aka Big Dude, Boosy Webbby Trick and Trina Money
(01:19):
Bag Yo Young Miami Power ninety eight. We was all
out there hosting, big shouting, my brother CDK, and then
of course the Baby finished the show in the headliner position.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
If there's anybody that's ever.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Been canceled and then bounced back like round ball, it's
that boy to Baby and he put on for the
City of Charlotte. And then the next day I had
the second installment of my five part Sunset on the
Lake series.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
One hundred professionals on the yachts.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
We had the jet skis out there, we had the
water toys out there. My girl von Yeta was setting
the tone, my girl Strawberry was hosting. Dodger Star was
on the media listen. We got three more Sunset on
the Lake dates. If you in the seven o four,
it ain't no better experience on Lake Norman. Sunset on
the Lake dot Com for your tickets.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
We even got a jinger for it.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Sunset on the League dot Com, sunset on the League
dot Com.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
For your ticket in. But now all roads lead to Juneteenth.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
You know, we celebrating As a matter of fact, it's
black Boat week Juneteenth weekend. They say Chicago gonna be
off the chains. But me and my brother Jay Lee
or we started our own boat rental company, BJ's Rentals,
cause it sucks when you don't have a boat, And
we got about seventeen boats that were putting out on
the lake this weekend. If you need tickets, hit me
(02:38):
on social media B dot tv and I can direct you.
But while we're gonna be in the water having a
good time Juneteenth weekend, we also gonna be celebrating that
faithful day June nineteenth, eighteen sixty five.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
And to be honest, man, everybody.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Celebrates Juneteenth where we're starting to, but almost nobody knows
the name Ben Hayth, the actual activist who created the
official Juneteenth flag.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
So this episode explores who he was while.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
The flag is what it is, and how one man
created a symbol that now flies across America.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
But at first, I have to give you three.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Of the most useless facts you'll never need ever, not
a day in life about Juneteenth.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Up first, the very first.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Juneteenth flag didn't appear until the year I graduated from
high school nineteen ninety seven. Y'all, that's one hundred and
thirty two years after Juneteenth itself. Let that sink in
your second useless fact. June teenth became a federal holiday
just five years ago, man, when sleepy Joe Biden had
(03:44):
to sign legislation that recognized it nationwide. While Obama didn't
make Juneteenth the federal holiday. I digress, and your third
useless fact, the creator of the Juneteenth flag is an
army vet, a former advertising professional, and a community activist
named Ben Hath. Were you familiar with this, gentleman, because
(04:05):
I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I didn't know.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
I didn't know. I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
So today's episode of I Didn't Know, maybe you didn't either,
start with a question, if June tenth is so important,
who designed the flag? But the answer you already know
by now is a man named Ben Hat, also known
as Boston Ben. Now, let me give you some homework
on being His full name is Hasseie Benjamin Hath, Junior,
and he was born in Connecticut.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
He served in the Army.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
He worked in advertising and marketing and later became a
community activist in Boston, and he spent years promoting Juneteenth
before bost of America had even heard of it. In
nineteen ninety seven, Boston Being founded the National June teenth
Celebration Foundation, and he realized something. Every major movement got
a symbol. Countries got flags, states got flags, cities got flags.
(05:04):
Why June teeth ain't got no flags, So he designed one.
Now here's where people get confused, cause most folk assume
Juneteenth is an African holiday and it ain't. June teenth
is a Black American holiday. Again, if you're just catching
up the speed. June teenth commemorates June nineteenth, eighteen sixty five,
when the Union troops pulled up in Galveston, Texas and
(05:27):
told the last enslaved black people in Texas.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
You are free, man.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
That's an American event on American soil, involving your American citizens.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
That's why the.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Flag ain't red, black and green like the Pan African flag,
but it's red, white and blue because it's American history. Hey, yeah,
Boston Being intentionally used those colors of the American flag
to make that statement. Black folks ain't outsiders to the
American story.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
We are the American story.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
The descendants of enslaved people are Americans, and the June
teenth flag reflects that. Now, let's break down the symbols.
You got a white star that represents Texas, the lone
star state where June teenth began, but it also supposed
to represent freedom spreading beyond Texas to black Americans in
all fifty states. Now that star burst around the star
(06:17):
that's called a nova, and a nova is a new
star appearing in the sky Boston being used it to
symbolize a new beginning, the birth of freedom, a new
chapter for Black Americans. And then there's an arc, that
curved line that's cutting across the flag that ain't random.
It's meant to represent a new horizon, a future beyond slavery,
a future fear with possibility. And then June nineteenth, eighteen
(06:40):
sixty five. That date was added later so nobody would
forget exactly what that flag represents, not just freedom in theory,
freedom that was announced in Texas on June nineteenth, eighteen
sixty five.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
So why is this the June teenth flag?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Simple being hate wasn't appointed by the government, he wasn't
elected by no committee. He spent years years organizing June
teenth celebrations nationally founded one of the leading Juneteenth organizations
in the country, designed a flag, promoted it relentlessly, and
communities eventually adopted it. Over time, it became recognized as
the symbol of the holiday. In other words, we chose
(07:20):
it the people, and then America follows.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Today.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That flag flys at city halls, state capitals, schools, businesses,
sporting events, federal buildings all across the country, and every
single time it does, it tells a story. And that
story ain't just about emancipation, but about a man named
Boston ben Hate who believed that Juneteenth deserved a symbol
powerful enough to last for generations.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
And he did just that. And I didn't know. Maybe
you didn't either,
Host
Brian "B Daht" McLaughlin
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