San Diego?s original Juneteenth Celebration - Remembering Black Independence Day and the End of Slavery in the U.S.
Fifty years ago in San Diego, Sidney Cooper Jr. opened a string of small businesses housed in one storefront in Southeast San Diego, in one of the largest historically African American neighborhoods. As a businessman and a member of the community, Sidney felt passionately about countering the devastating effects that centuries of oppression had imposed on his neighborhood.
As a man of character and compassion, he wanted to be part of something positive that would unify the people of Southeast San Diego, and remind them of how strong, beautiful and important they were. So with his own money, Sidney started ?The Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration.?
Sidney perceived Juneteenth to not only be a celebration of Black Independence Day, but also as an opportunity to unite and heal the community by providing health resources, educational programs, food, a kid?s fun zone and entertainment. Perhaps the most important aspect of this is that Sidney made sure that all of these services were provided to everyone free of cost. He wanted Juneteenth to be about all members of the community, from those who were well-off, to the homeless men and women who slept on the streets outside of his store.
Juneteenth was a source of great passion for Sidney, so when he passed away a few years ago, his children, imbued with the same sense of dedication for their community, continued his project and have been holding the annual event in honor of his memory and with the same intentions of unifying people, much in the same way as their father had.
In the past several years, the Cooper family has partnered with several other community organizations to expand and increase the publicity of Juneteenth and (thus, as the numbers continue to swell, so too does the diversity of the attendees) each year more people are participating, and the attendees are becoming more diverse. Last year?s celebration saw attendees numbered in the thousands.
In addition to its core African American base, recent years have seen a strong participation from the LGBT and Latino communities alike, as well as religious and spiritual organizations. This growth is largely due to the growing variety of services, vendors and performances that the Coopers incorporate and invite each year. There are booths and stages that line both sides of Imperial Avenue that serve to assist, inspire, educate and empower the community. Everything from free health services such as HIV testing and information about diabetes to voter registration and information on local issues, from the displays of local artists to the educational spotlight on African American history, from the dance performances ranging from five year old hip hop dancers to African drummers, are just a few examples of what the Cooper Family Juneteenth has to offer. At last year?s event, the Cooper Family fed over 3,000 people for free! Unlike many community fairs where there are formalities and tickets, this is a block party that welcomes everyone and there are no parameters separating the event from the neighborhood.
Admission/Cost: FREE
Location:
29th and Imperial Ave
San Diego, CA 92102
Saturday, June 18 - 11:00 AM
Fifty years ago in San Diego, Sidney Cooper Jr. opened a string of small businesses housed in one storefront in Southeast San Diego, in one of the largest historically African American neighborhoods. As a businessman and a member of the community, Sidney felt passionately about countering the devastating effects that centuries of oppression had imposed on his neighborhood.
As a man of character and compassion, he wanted to be part of something positive that would unify the people of Southeast San Diego, and remind them of how strong, beautiful and important they were. So with his own money, Sidney started ?The Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration.?
Sidney perceived Juneteenth to not only be a celebration of Black Independence Day, but also as an opportunity to unite and heal the community by providing health resources, educational programs, food, a kid?s fun zone and entertainment. Perhaps the most important aspect of this is that Sidney made sure that all of these services were provided to everyone free of cost. He wanted Juneteenth to be about all members of the community, from those who were well-off, to the homeless men and women who slept on the streets outside of his store.
Juneteenth was a source of great passion for Sidney, so when he passed away a few years ago, his children, imbued with the same sense of dedication for their community, continued his project and have been holding the annual event in honor of his memory and with the same intentions of unifying people, much in the same way as their father had.
In the past several years, the Cooper family has partnered with several other community organizations to expand and increase the publicity of Juneteenth and (thus, as the numbers continue to swell, so too does the diversity of the attendees) each year more people are participating, and the attendees are becoming more diverse. Last year?s celebration saw attendees numbered in the thousands.
In addition to its core African American base, recent years have seen a strong participation from the LGBT and Latino communities alike, as well as religious and spiritual organizations. This growth is largely due to the growing variety of services, vendors and performances that the Coopers incorporate and invite each year. There are booths and stages that line both sides of Imperial Avenue that serve to assist, inspire, educate and empower the community. Everything from free health services such as HIV testing and information about diabetes to voter registration and information on local issues, from the displays of local artists to the educational spotlight on African American history, from the dance performances ranging from five year old hip hop dancers to African drummers, are just a few examples of what the Cooper Family Juneteenth has to offer. At last year?s event, the Cooper Family fed over 3,000 people for free! Unlike many community fairs where there are formalities and tickets, this is a block party that welcomes everyone and there are no parameters separating the event from the neighborhood.
Admission/Cost: FREE
Location:
29th and Imperial Ave
San Diego, CA 92102
Saturday, June 18 - 11:00 AM
