flag out of peace and celebration, a flag that says who we are as AfricanAmericans. David always stressed that this is a nonpolitical flag." When the flag project began, David was coordinator of the prison program at Coppin State College, and Tonya was an elementary school teacher with the Baltimore City Public School System. They created a company, DATON, Inc., to produce and sell the flags, and developed a flag design and prototype. After getting the product patented in 1993, they left their jobs and busied themselves with building their company and increasing the flag’s acceptance. "David understood," his mother says, "that flags are powerful symbols. He wanted the flag to help pull AfricanAmericans together, to say that we are
David Harvey’s two-year-old daughter, Chloe, and his wife Tonya Harvey.
an integral part of this country, and to remind us that each one of us can succeed and do well. He wanted to see the flag at historically black colleges and universities. He wanted to see it on desktops in middle school. He wanted it to inspire young people." Through the family’s efforts, organizations and prominent individuals throughout the world have accepted the flag. African-American flags have been presented to the renowned South African leader Nelson Mandela and noted historian Dr. John Hope Franklin. In addition to countless colleges, universities, public schools, private schools and faith institutions, the flag is on display at numerous sites including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Building, NAACP National Headquarters, United Baptist
David Harvey’s wife Tonya Harvey, his mother, Delores Smith Harvey, and his father Carl Harvey.
For additional information about the AfricanAmerican flag, or to place an order, call 410-254-3886
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Missionary Convention Building, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Missouri Black Expo, American League of Financial Institutions, Committee for African-American History Observances, National Black Catholic Congress, National Black Police Association and National Urban League Headquarters. In addition to producing the AfricanAmerican flag, DATON, Inc. expanded its menu of services and products to include establishing flag courts, replacing flagpoles and producing customized flags for organizations and institutions. Despite David’s death, the family is committed to continuing DATON, Inc. and to fulfilling David’s vision of widespread acceptance of the African-American flag.