SAN DIEGO — This Sunday, June 19th marks Juneteenth, the holiday that was mostly celebrated in Black families in the South to commemorate the end of slavery on June 19, 1865. This came two years after the Emancipation Proclamation when the last remaining slaves in Galveston, Texas were freed.
Last year, President Joe Biden made it a federal holiday so every American could learn about the holiday and celebrate freedom.
The official Juneteenth Flag features the starburst in red, white and blue is a stark contrast to the Pan-African flag of green, black and red stripes that's normally associated with the Juneteenth holiday or celebrations. The red, white and blue Juneteenth flag was created in 1997.
This year, Juneteenth flag raising ceremonies were held at the San Diego Unified School District, Chula Vista and the San Diego County Administration building downtown. Velma Cooper and her family have been San Diego's primary Juneteenth staple for years called The Cooper Family Foundation’s Annual Juneteenth Festival.
Cooper said, "There are no words that I can express. I'm just so happy. I wish my husband had lived long enough to see this. I'm appreciative of all the beautiful Black people that came out here to see this."
Cooper shares candidly, her family’s Juneteenth celebrations had a humble beginning, growing to the widely attended festival you see in San Diego. Cooper said, "We always celebrated in our backyard, and that's how it started in the backyard."
Debra Mclaren is the Director of Leadership, Development, Equity and Access for Chula Vista School District. Debra was one of the speakers at The City of Chula Vista Juneteenth Flag Raising ceremony and shared, “It's only been in the last couple of years that I've learned more about what it (Juneteenth) represents and I wondered why it hasn't had more of a focus in our education system."
Gaidi Finnie, Executive Director of The San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts, said he appreciates the celebrations across the county finally joining The San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts in commemorating freedom on a wider scale. "We've always been about this sort of thing. We call it a teachable moment in education for all the races. So for us, you use that, like Black History Month, to promote what you do because there's a platform already there."
The museum will feature a, “The Buses Are Coming” Freedom Riders Exhibit that runs Friday, June 17 until September 4 at The Quartyard in East Village.
The Cooper Family Foundation will host their annual Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Park. Festival entry is free and free food will be served.
SATURDAY
At 7:30 a.m., the World Beat Cultural Center will host a Juneteenth bike ride through Mid-City/Downtown San Diego. People of all ages who ride bikes or are interested in riding bikes and support diversity, equity and community-building are welcome to join. The ride is organized and led by Major Taylor Cycling Club San Diego. 2100 Park Blvd. in Balboa Park.
The North San Diego County Juneteenth celebration will kick off in Oceanside at Pier View Way and Freeman Street, with local artists and musicians, a kids zone, sports clinics, vendor booths, free health screenings and a vaccine station. Event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At 10 a.m., Community Actor's Theatre and Common Ground Theatre will host an outdoor event at the Jacobs Center in Market Creek Plaza with history, music, dancing, storytelling, reflection, vendors and physical art. The Jacobs Center For Neighborhood Innovation is at 404 Euclid Ave.
The Cooper Family Foundation will host its annual Juneteenth Celebration at Memorial Park, 2975 Ocean View Blvd., with the theme of "Healing the Community." The event includes educational programs, cultural performances, gospel music and more. The event begins at 11 a.m.
At noon, The Old Globe Theater will host its sixth annual Juneteenth celebration. Hosted by Gill Sotu, the event's lineup includes poetry and music by performers Def Sound, Reg E Gaines and Brittany Taylor; a choir performance by David Dredden and Undefeated; a Juneteenth storytelling by poet Alyce Smith Cooper; a comedy set by Kree Rushing; and a presentation by The Old Globe called "Sucker Punched." Lowell Davies Festival Theatre Stage, 1363 Old Globe Way.
Also at noon, Soul Swapmeet will celebrate Juneteenth with a showcase for Black-owned business products, services, foods and passions. DJ sets will be performed by DJ Drumma Girl, DJ Ash D and DJ D Nyce. The event features food vendors and a kids play area. It's being held at 1640 Camino Del Rio North.
SUNDAY
At 9 a.m., the Surfrider Foundation of San Diego County will host its Juneteenth community barbecue with a "Paddle for Peace," yoga and surf lessons, a beach cleanup and food. La Jolla Shores, 8300 Camino Del Oro.
At noon, The La Mesa Juneteenth and Friends 2022 celebration will kick off at MacArthur Park, 4975 Memorial Drive. The event will feature food, art, music, history, dance, crafts and family fun.
MONDAY
All public San Diego County offices, family resource centers, libraries and animal shelters will be closed in observance of the holiday.
County and state-operated COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites will be closed Sunday and Monday and will resume normal hours Tuesday. Some vaccination and testing clinics will be open.
Essential services such as law enforcement and emergency animal control response will continue through the holiday.
County parks, campgrounds and neighborhood day-use parks will remain open, except for: Fallbrook Community Center, Lakeside Community Center, Spring Valley Community Center, Spring Valley Gymnasium, 4S Ranch Recreation Office (all parks will be open), Valley Center Recreation Center and community teen centers.
All county offices will resume normal business hours Tuesday.
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