The earliest Haitian flag was the French flag with the white stripe torn out because it represented white colonial oppression. At that time, red and blue represented the ethnic groups of Haiti. The current Haitian flag was adopted in 1986. The government version of this flag includes the Haitian coat of arms, which features weapons for defense, a royal palm for independence, and the Cap of Liberty. The motto on the white scroll reads L’Union Fait La Force or “Unity Makes Strength.”
