This week marked Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday in the U.S., but its roots go back more than 150 years. Even though the day has passed, the city’s largest black community is still coming together to honor African-American freedom in San Diego.
Maliya Jones is carrying on a legacy that started with her grandfather, Sidney Cooper Sr., a businessman and community leader in Logan Heights.
“Him and his wife had a business in Southeast San Diego, and that business was a produce store, a barber shop, and a beauty salon,” Jones said.
More than a hub for goods and services, Sidney’s business became a lifeline for neighbor, and a platform to uplift the Black community…