'Love Of People And Community' At Leimert Park's Juneteenth Celebration

Mariana Dale explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.

Published Jun 19, 2024 5:31 PM

A woman with dark skin tone wears a yellow shirt, headscarf and large metal earrings in the shape of Africa.

Leimert Park has long hosted celebrations of Juneteenth that bring thousands of people to South L.A.

This year the large-scale festival was postponed over rising costs, but local business owners stepped up to organize a day of music, food, and community.

On either side of a wide street, white tents are lined up. People walk between them

“We decided that we would come together in unity and continue on with this tradition,” said Aminah Muhammad, president of the Leimert Park Village Merchants Association.

A man's dark skin tone hands play a drum.

Juneteenth marks the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation declared two years earlier. June 19 became a federal holiday in 2021.

Leimert Park’s festivities date to 1949 when Texas transplant Jonathan Leonard held his first picnic there— a tradition his family carries on to this day.

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The event is also a vital economic driver for local businesses owners. The festival organizers estimate the previous gatherings generated more than $1 million in sales.

As Wednesday’s festivities were getting underway, we talked to a few of these entrepreneurs about what the holiday and the neighborhood mean to them.

A man with dark skin tone and a bald head wears a navy sweatshirt and stands in front of a white building with a sign that reads Harun Coffee.

"My parents came here in 1958 and I'm a son of Los Angeles," said Harun Coffee owner Aaron Chace Johnson.

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Mariana Dale

LAist

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A woman's hands with medium dark skin tone pours milk into a coffee.

"Leimert is a place for Black culture, social, political, economic movements [and[ artistic movements," Johnson said.

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Mariana Dale

LAist

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Aaron Chace Johnson | Harun Coffee | Instagram

Harun is a coffee shop, community hub and art space.
Address: 4336 Degnan Blvd.
Open 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday

Juneteenth symbolizes .... a day of freedom from a form of chattel slavery. We know nowadays, even now, it's completely not true, but it's symbolic of that ideal and sometimes the ideal is good enough.

— Aaron Chace Johnson, owner, Harun Coffee

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A woman's hand with medium dark skin tone adjusts a beaded sculpture of a head. The tiny beads of the eyes are red while the mouth is green and the face is made of blue, yellow, orange, green, white and red beads.

Queen Aminah's Clothing also sells African art.

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Mariana Dale

LAist

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A woman with dark skin tone wears a black, yellow and white patterned robe with a matching headscarf and a yellow beaded necklace.

"I just love wearing unique clothing, items that you can't find everywhere," Muhammad said. "I love it when it comes from Africa because that's the motherland." She debuted this Ghanian outfit on Wednesday.

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Mariana Dale

LAist

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Aminah Muhammad | Queen Aminah’s Clothing | Instagram

The shop sells clothing, jewelry, art and other imports from Africa.
Address: 4339 Degnan Blvd.
Hours: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

Leimert Park has always been special. I've been coming here since the 70s and I must say that it's always been a cultural hub, a black Mecca… It's a wonderful way to celebrate our history and our culture…I love being a part of this community.

— Aminah Muhammand, owner, Queen Aminah’s Clothing

A woman with dark skin tone wears a black baseball hat that reads Vegan or Nah. In the background a man with a gray shirt prepares waffles.

"Oh my God, it's just a complete vibe," said Vegan or Nah owner Eboney Botts of Leimert Park. "When you come here, you feel the love of the people and the community."

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Mariana Dale

LAist

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Golden brown french fries and a waffle sandwich with lettuce and fried oyster mushrooms.

Vegan or Nah's recipes often substitute fried oyster mushroom in dishes like sliders, chicken and waffles.

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Mariana Dale

LAist

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Eboney Botts | Vegan or Nah

A pop-up restaurant highlighting vegan soul food— think fried oyster mushroom “chickun” and waffles.
Address and hours vary based on event.

My ancestors fought for us. …They have paved the way for me to be able to come out here freely and with a smile and serve the community because I want to and not because I have to.

— Eboney Botts, owner, Vegan or Nah

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'Love Of People And Community' At Leimert Park's Juneteenth Celebration

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