African Americans in San Francisco: A month to celebrate history and pride
SAN FRANCISCO, California (June 18, 2021) – African American community members in the Fillmore and Bayview districts of San Francisco are hosting a series of events this month for the public to celebrate Black culture and freedom. The events surround two occasions: Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, was declared a federal holiday this week by President Joe Biden. June is also national Pride Month commemorating the fight against oppression of LGBTQIA+ people.
“Black history, Black joy, Black resilience, Black praise and Black love are inextricable and Juneteenth is a holiday that connects them all together by honoring our ancestors’ resilience and strength with a communal celebration,” said Melonie Green, a key member of the Juneteenth organizing committee. She and her twin sister, Melorra, are co-executive directors of the African American Art & Culture Complex and 2021 SF Pride Community Grand Marshals.
“This celebration of our people’s liberation is needed more today than ever given the stark social realities that we have been confronting head on all over the country since the death of George Floyd,” she said. “The entire committee has been working tirelessly to ensure that this event is a great one because we all know how desperately the Black community needs the opportunity to celebrate ourselves openly and together.”
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
All events are in San Francisco, open to the public, and family friendly. Admission is free unless stated otherwise. Attendees are asked to follow COVID-19 guidelines including wearing facial masks and practicing social distancing.
Lyft, the 2021 Juneteenth transportation partner for the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce, is giving up to 300 free rides a day on Saturday and Sunday for Juneteenth events with discount code JUNETEENTH2021.