CRENSHAW : 10,000 Celebrate at Juneteenth Event

It was a true family event that had something for everyone, from wandering clowns doing quick-hit face paintings for delighted children to grocery giveaways for their parents.

The celebratory spirit of Juneteenth, which observes the day that blacks in Texas got the word that slavery was over, was in full force last weekend at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The fund-raiser--the largest Juneteenth celebration in the Los Angeles area--generated more than $15,000 for the Crenshaw-based organization Great Beginnings for Black Babies.

The carnival-like celebration was held at the velodrome on the campus. For $2 admission each, more than 10,000 people were treated to live jazz and blues performances, face painting, storytelling, rodeo events and grocery giveaways.

Vendors sold an array of goods, including Southern food, gift baskets, literature, clothing and African American artwork.

The event was sponsored by Food 4 Less, which owns Boys, Viva, Food 4 Less and Alpha Beta markets.

Event spokeswoman Penny Owodunni said that the company wanted to stage a Juneteenth celebration that gave something back to the South-Central community that supports so many of its stores. Rather than stuffed animals, carnival and game booths gave away toothpaste, soap powder, cereal and other groceries to winners.

Owodunni said that although Food 4 Less has sponsored two similar events in past years, this was the first to benefit a local organization, and the biggest. Celebrities such as Hal Williams of the television show “227,” Kene Holliday of “Matlock” and stage actor Dick Anthony Williams dropped by to lend support for the cause.

Great Beginnings for Black Babies, located in the Crenshaw Square shopping center on Crenshaw Boulevard, is a nonprofit group that raises public awareness about prenatal health through media and ad campaigns. It is running a billboard campaign primarily in black communities that warns against the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

“This is a cause we truly believe in,” said Food 4 Less spokesman Darius Anderson.

Anderson added that the Juneteenth holiday seemed a natural context for the benefit: “It gave us a good opportunity to highlight the culture of the community, and at the same time get involved in a great cause.”