SAN DIEGO, CA — On the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest community celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, Alliance San Diego reflects on its mission to ensure that all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice, and how Black communities’ fight for racial justice is critical to our mission.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny." In the spirit of Juneteenth, Alliance San Diego works to end oppression and injustice in our community. That includes efforts to enforce police accountability and end brutality, improve educational outcomes for students of color, increase resources to communities most in need, and empower communities to stand up for themselves, particularly for Black and Latino people.
Christopher R. Wilson, associate director of Alliance San Diego, issued the following statement:
“Juneteenth reminds us of the slaves in Texas who were held in bondage two-and-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. So, while it’s a celebration, it’s also a stark reminder that even though laws might change, people’s actions can still have a heavier impact on our everyday lives. We see that now with the racist murder of George Floyd, and the loss of countless other Black lives as a result of police brutality. Black women, Black men, Black people — including Black trans people — live in this country under the foot of racism, and still strive to be successful. Our children are forced to learn this experience from an early age, and the message is that because they are Black, it isn’t good enough to be excellent,.
The Black Lives Matter movement is one way to bring attention to the injustices that Black people in America live with. Being Black in America should not be a death sentence. Being Black in America should not mean being impoverished your whole life.I am proud of the work we do at Alliance San Diego to uplift Black communities and Dr. King’s teachings, as well as celebrate Black Culture!
It’s nice to see widespread interest in celebrating Juneteenth by those outside of the Black community, but I’m hoping it won’t be a one-year thing. I’m hoping this day can become something meaningful in America, but that won’t happen without actual change in our policies and culture to affirm Black lives and combat white supremacy.”
About Alliance San Diego
Alliance San Diego is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) community empowerment organization working to ensure that all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice. Our mission is to provide a means for diverse individuals and organizations to share information, collaborate on issues and mobilize for change in the pursuit of social justice, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We pursue this mission through targeted civic engagement programs and strategic coalitions that focus on specific issues and policy reforms.
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