By Brandon Johnson
Held every 19th of June, Juneteenth has become a time of celebration amongst African Americans, a remembrance and observance of our long-awaited freedom from captivity. Knowing the importance that the people of his community have an opportunity to come together and observe this day of emancipation, Sydney Cooper Sr. decided to found Black Independence Day fifty-three years ago.
“Once he passed away my mother Thelma Cooper wanted to continue the tradition in my fathers honor. Says daughter, Marla Lyn Cooper, and so the Cooper Family Foundation was formed. They fundraise all year long in preparation for this one day event. “After my father left, we just continued on, we started small and now we have a whole block, its a community event,” Cooper shares. But that is still months away, the family is still in the planning phase.
This past Sunday the 29th, guests from all over San Diego filled the hall of the George L. Stevens Senior Center, for the Cooper Family Gospel Jazz Brunch. This was the family’s third fundraising event of the year. The day featured a delicious brunch, prize giveaways, soul-stirring praise dances, gospel music from New Assurance Baptist Church choir, R&B crooning by Ray Spite and some amazing Jazz by featured saxophinst Jason Brown.
All of the funds raised here go to continuing the mission of the Cooper Family’s Black Independence Day. To offer food to all who come, to feed the homeless, to provide fun activities for kids, provide heath information to the community and to continue offering this event every year for free.
