Melvin Charles was a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey and was educated at the former Thomas Jefferson High School and Bloomfield College. He also served as a Petty Officer in the United States Navy where he received an Honorable Discharge. The youngest of three children, Mr. Charles treasured the values instilled in him by his parents which included hard work, clean living, honesty, persistence and a commitment to his own personal goals. "Mel" was a talented musician, photographer, and painter who worked for several years in the field of design-display. He resided in New Jersey for most of his life where he was active in the political arena of several communities.
A trained artist, Mel Charles was the designer of The Black American Heritage Flag. In his quest to make Black Americans aware of the flag he appeared across the country at hundreds of meetings, conferences, conventions, churches, and schools. While residing in Tampa, Florida, Mel was featured on a PBS special program which chronicles his journey with the The Black American Heritage Flag. He passed away in March of 2017 and was the father of one daughter and had two grandchildren. To learn more about Mel Charles go to www.originalblackamericanheritageflag.com