Think of American cities with robust African-American communities, and San Diego probably doesn’t spring first to mind. But maybe it should. The Black Historical Society of San Diego boasts of being the largest such society in the US, judged by their collections, special events, and diverse holdings. In June the society also unveiled the first museum here dedicated to San Diego’s rich African-American history. Open every daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., it’s well worth a visit.
Although small, the permanent exhibition installed on the museum’s walls communicates a number of intriguing tidbits. Arranged chronologically, it points out that, at least mythologically, the first inhabitants of the “island” of California were black Amazons “decked in gold and pearls with strong bodies and ardent courage” and governed by a Queen named Califia (aka Calafia). The 1510 Spanish romance novel that recounted all this helped motivate the first Spanish conquistadors.
From the exhibit, you can also learn who was the very first African-American to settle here (a slave otter-hunter who jumped ship in 1804), how the African-American governer of Mexican California (Pio Pico) enriched himself (by giving himself huge land grants that included much of what’s now Camp Pendleton and Coronado), and what percentage of black San Diegans had moved to Logan Heights from downtown by 1960 (82%).
Memorable African-American pioneers including Nate Harrison, who lived to 101 and spent much of his life in a rustic cabin on Mt. Palomar, and Fred Coleman, who kicked off San Diego’s gold rush in 1869, receive attention, as do the glory years in the 1920s, when parts of San Diego’s downtown were known as the Harlem of the West.
The latter is also the subject of a 45-minute walking tour given every Saturday at 11 ($5). Other regular tours include a monthly African American City Tour. The society also hosts a half dozen festivals, including the San Diego Black Film Festival and the Julian Delta Blues Festival. A tiny gift store in the new museum is a good place to look for historical documents and Afro-centric art and figurines. For more information, call 619/232-1480.
Your blog is so interesting! I have subscribed on rss and I will read it regullary/
that painting ONLY shows the ignorence of the artist!. The facial features are those of a modern day African American(mixed africans) a true native tribe woman would have big lips, fat nose, little breasts, Much darker skin, and very short and curly hair. that painting is a good ‘Fantasy’ image of what an african tribe women wold look like in the artists own ‘fantasy’. Not genuine art work, she looks like an Aztec princess, or egyptian princess.