Cobbs migrated north to SD after completing an assignment in Tijuana, where she found she had an increasing thirst for spaces where she could enjoy camaraderie with other Black professionals. “I didn’t have a social network when I first moved here,” Cobbs says. “I’d go out by myself trying to acclimate with San Diego and west coast culture. I was wondering how I could meet people without door-to-door advocacy,” she says.

Photo courtesy of SD Melanin

Cobbs founded SD Melanin in 2017 and hosted her first event on MeetUp. “People would ask why I’m doing this, while others would say nobody would show up to the event. I’m the youngest of five siblings, and I have always been a bit stubborn, so I decided to move forward and see what happens,” she says.

The venue was a restaurant bar several blocks off the main drag in Hillcrest. More than 75 professionals showed up, a number that superseded what Cobbs expected. Since the inaugural Hillcrest gathering, SD Melanin has curated 200-plus events hosting more than 10,000 people at black-tie galas, concerts, rooftop soirees, and healing circles.

Photo courtesy of SD Melanin

But Cobbs isn’t alone in these endeavors. She is joined by a group of like-minded women (Jeaniqua Francis, Kiana Henderson, Amari Dixon, and Aniesa Thomas) who share a passion for outreach and community. “When I first began, I found it was women who would reach out to inquire about how they could be of assistance,” Cobbs says. “We bonded over community building and service.”

SD Melanin has hosted a Juneteenth celebration almost every year since the company’s inception, but part of striving for excellence is continuously elevating the standard. This year’s event will be hosted on Sunday, June 25, from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. at The Holding Company (THC) in Ocean Beach. The full-day affair will include two workshops hosted by Passion Planner, art by Illustrated Melanin (curated by Black Liberated Artist Collective), and items for sale by local Black-owned businesses. The first floor at The Holding Company will play Afrobeats, Soca, Reggae, and Amapiano, while the second floor and rooftop will bump Hip Hop and R&B.

Photo courtesy of SD Melanin

“The DJs will guide us through a musical journey,” Cobbs says. “We will take a musical journey throughout the diaspora and to places where Black folks have found liberation. It is fulfilling to feel like we are creating a solution and producing a space people feel invited in. Spaces they may not have been welcomed in before.”

But Juneteenth—which celebrates our country’s second independence day on June 19 and became a federal holiday in 2021—isn’t all cocktails and vibey music. The holiday carries a rich historical legacy. Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas, marking the end of slavery in the westernmost Confederate state on June 19, 1865.

June 19 isn’t just a date on the calendar, it’s an emblem of freedom. The name originates from combining June and nineteenth, and early celebrations were held where Black people felt both physical and psychological freedom, such as in churches. The food-centered gatherings had a healthy heartbeat and immense support amongst African Americans in the rural south, but did not become popularized across the United States until the Great Migration, one of the largest movements of people in this country’s history.

Photo courtesy of SD Melanin

Moving forward, Cobbs is confident SD Melanin will continue to be synonymous with providing space and opportunity for those committed to thriving outside the bounds of what they thought possible.“I want to make it abundantly clear why we are focused on Black joy, and that’s because the majority of stories told about the Black community are rooted in trauma. There aren’t enough conversations surrounding liberation and community,” says Cobb. “It is fulfilling to feel like we are creating a solution, and rewarding to see a community shift. It’s nice to welcome people into spaces they hadn’t previously felt welcomed in.”

The post SD Melanin: Curating Black Joy appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Kia Edwards and family.jpg

Our family is connected to Juneteenth. What an incredible source of pride, especially now.

Juneteenth is the official enslaved African independence day and recently became a federally recognized holiday. The effort—led by my husband’s late uncle, the honorable Al Edwards—has been a long-awaited victory.

Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865, which announced the freedom of enslaved Africans in the U.S. It wasn’t until two years later, on June 19, that slaves in Galveston, Texas were made aware they had been freed. This is why African-Americans have been acknowledging and honoring it every year by organizing events that spur economic development for African-Americans, through cultural celebrations throughout the community, and just gathering with loved ones. It’s an honoring of those who not only fought for our freedom as African-Americans, but also sacrificed themselves to help build and develop this country.

Texas, where the story of Juneteenth originates in Galveston, was the first state to commemorate the date in 1980 thanks to the efforts of many (including uncle Al, who was then a Texas State Representative). By 2002, eight states followed. Four years later, it was up to 15 states. In 2021—41 years after its inception—Juneteenth was officially written into history and acknowledged as a federal holiday. It’s a crucial recognition.

For those wondering about the controversy surrounding Juneteenth, it’s a complex topic. But a lot of it has to do with the fact that many slave owners refused to follow the new order. Enslaved Africans, though officially freed by the government and now U.S. citizens, would not realize that until years later.

The idea that slavery ended on Juneteenth has been far from the reality of the Black experience in the United States. Inequality and workplace bias extends to areas like the healthcare and justice systems, lack of access to affordable housing and financial inclusivity, and the simple sharing of equal privileges of non-Black people.

But, back to the national holiday. This celebration of Black history and our heritage is long overdue. I’m grateful to have seen our country and specifically my home town of San Diego take an interest in our contributions by challenging businesses, politicians, educators, and influencers to be thoughtful in allyship. We should remember to leave marginalized communities better than how they were found.

Juneteenth is just a single day, but we can honor the spirit of it everyday life. Consider the intersectionality of Black people who also identify as LGBTQIA+ or disabled, who often experience discrimination for multiple aspects of their identity. Have the hard conversations at the dinner table. Denounce injustice and listen to learn from Black people’s stories. Find ways to add value to our community without being performative or financially opportunistic when honoring our culture. Support our efforts without looking for a return.

We have come far. But there is still so much to be done to equally share in the same American dream. The collective dream would really be something to celebrate.

To join in local celebrations and organized economic development events, follow organizations like the County of San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, African American Association of County Employees (AAACE), the Malcolm X Library, San Diego Urban League, and Black San Diego.

Correction: An earlier version of this story made it sound as if June 19 was the date Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It was not. June 19 was the day Union troops freed the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas nearly two years later. 

Kia Edwards.jpg

About Kia Edwards:

Kia Edwards is founder and CEO of Champion Instructors, a company that solves diverse educational and training needs virtually or in person. She is a humanitarian, activist, EDUpreneur, a wife, and a mother of two young boys.

The post Local San Diegan Reflects on Juneteenth appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

NAACP, hero

NAACP

Saturday, June 18

Juneteenth: A Summer Celebration of Culture

The Jacobs Center, in partnership with Community Actors Theatre and Common Ground Theatre, are offering a free outdoor event of theater and history. The event will feature a lineup of dance, music, storytelling and more, including performances by Devon Stallion and J’Rayl. There will also be food trucks and other vendors, as well as visual art. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. at The Jacobs Center at Market Street Plaza.

Axis: Juneteenth Celebration

Presented in collaboration with the George L. Stevens Senior Center, the Old Globe hosts the Axis: Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 18 at noon in its outdoor theater. The event will feature poetry, music, storytelling, and comedy from performers such as Alyce Smith Cooper, Def Sound, David Dredden and the Undefeated, and Brittany Taylor. Admission is free for attendees, but you must RSVP online.

The Cooper Family Foundation Celebration

The nonprofit Cooper Family Foundation has held its Juneteenth celebration annually in San Diego for more than 50 years. The event, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. highlights its significance with a community-oriented day filled with food, entertainment, dancing and history. This year’s free event will take place at Memorial Park, with live music from headliners Con Funk Shun, plus gospel, jazz, cultural performances, and educational resources. The event will also be broadcast live on Facebook for those who won’t be able to attend in person.

North San Diego County NAACP Juneteenth Celebration

North County’s chapter of the North Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosts a day of celebration in Oceanside at Pier View Way and North Freeman Street. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. and features performances, local art and music, a Kidz Zone, free health screenings, a vaccine station, and food and beverage vendors. The event is free for all to attend.

NAACP

NAACP

Sunday, June 19

Juneteenth Unity Market

On Sunday, the World Beat Cultural Center will unveil Pathways to Freedom, a new traveling exhibit that connects history between the U.S. and Mexico with the Underground Railroad. The event will also keynote speakers Jordan McGowan and Dr. Starla Lewis as well as an outdoor marketplace at Centro Cultural de la Raza, with food, vendors and speakers. The event kicks off at noon, and the Pathways to Freedom preview goes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

La Mesa Juneteenth and Friends Festival

La Mesa hosts its inaugural Juneteenth festival on Sunday at MacArthur Park. The event is free and will feature food, music, art, dance, and crafts, with participation from educators, writers, city and church leaders. Performances will also include music by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Choir. The festivities kick off at noon and wrap up at 4 p.m.

Juneteenth Celebration 5K

Fit, Black and Educated, a nonprofit that helps provide Black communities with tools to promote better physical health, hosts its third annual 5K run/walk/bike event on Juneteenth. The course begins at Chollas Lake Park, and all participants will receive a drawstring bag and finisher medal, plus the first 50 participants will receive a shirt. The race begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. and is $45 (plus fees) to register. All proceeds will go toward Fit, Black and Educated.

Juneteenth Block Party

SD Melanin brings back its Juneteenth Block Party this year, which is being held at Quartyard from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The event will feature music, food, vendors and “major vibes.” Music will be provided by DJ Prodigee and Mister Hek, as well as hip-hop artist ThaSpeakerBoxx. Tickets to the event are $25, and attendance is restricted to ages 21 and up.

The post Music, Art Exhibits & Block Parties: How to Celebrate Juneteenth appeared first on San Diego Magazine.