The 32nd Annual Black Rose Awards will honor 10 outstanding community leaders with lifetime achievement honors called Black Rose Awards.
The Black Culture Foundation invites individuals, organizations, and businesses to participate in this historic event. “Whether you are attending the events, marching in the parade, or volunteering to ensure the events are a success, your involvement will help make this year’s Black History celebrations a resounding success,” said Dameron.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.—The Black Culture Foundation announces the Annual San Bernardino Black History Celebration, featuring the 46th Black History Parade, Festival’s 32nd annual Black Rose Awards. Both events are on Saturday, February 1, and Gospel Fest on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
“This year’s theme, “Black History is Alive!” celebrates Black Americans’ rich heritage, ongoing contributions, and bright future,” said Black Culture Foundation President Carl M. Dameron
Black Rose Awards:
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Location: Cal State San Bernardino, The Santos Manuel Student Union, 5500 University Pkwy., San Bernardino, CA 92407
The 32nd Annual Black Rose Awards will honor 10 outstanding community leaders with lifetime achievement honors called Black Rose Awards. Awardees, including Dr. Hardy Brown, Sr., will be honored as Humanitarian of the Year, and the San Manuel Band Of Mission Indians will receive the Jim King Founders Award.
“The parade, a beloved tradition since 1968, will march through the heart of Westside San Bernardino, inspiring the community with its vibrant energy and cultural significance,” said Dameron.
Black History Parade Details:
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 9:00 A.M.
Route: Baseline and Mt. Vernon to California Street
“The parade, a beloved tradition since 1968, will march through the heart of Westside San Bernardino, inspiring the community with its vibrant energy and cultural significance,” said Dameron.
Black History Festival Details:
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Location: Arroyo High School, 1881 W. Base Line St., San Bernardino, CA 92411
According to Dameron, the festival will feature a diverse range of vendors, performers, and community organizations. Attendees can enjoy delicious food, cultural arts, and live entertainment, including comedians, dancers, and singers.
Gospel Fest Details:
Date: Saturday, February 22
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Location: TBD
Chair Bishop Kenneth Wells
A celebration of Gospel, celebrating the rich Black history of gospel music with performances from some of our area’s best gospel choirs.
The Black Culture Foundation invites individuals, organizations, and businesses to participate in this historic event. “Whether you are attending the events, marching in the parade, or volunteering to ensure the events are a success, your involvement will help make this year’s Black History celebrations a resounding success,” said Dameron.
Join the Celebration
The Black Culture Foundation invites individuals, organizations, and businesses to participate in this historic event. “Whether you are attending the events, marching in the parade, or volunteering to ensure the events are a success, your involvement will help make this year’s Black History celebrations a resounding success,” said Dameron.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Black Culture Foundation is seeking sponsors to help make this event successful. Sponsorship packages offer a variety of benefits, including logo placement, advertising mentions, booth space at the festival, and tickets to the Black Rose Awards are available online at SBBCFoundation.org.
About the Black Culture Foundation
The Black Culture Foundation’s noble purpose is to kindle an interest in and deeper appreciation of Black culture, raise community awareness about the achievements of Black individuals, past and present, and organize an annual Black History Month parade and associated cultural events. Furthermore, the foundation seeks to transcend cultural barriers by uniting the local community and celebrating this event with unity and brotherhood.
James Ramos, California State Assemblymember is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
San Bernardino Mayor Elect Helen Tran is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren J. Goodman is one of the four Grand Marshalls for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza on Saturday, January 16 on the WestSide of San Bernardino from Mt. Vernon to California Street on Baseline Ave.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. Grand Marshals for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza are James Ramos, California State Assemblymember; Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District; Helen Tran, San Bernardino City Mayor-Elect; and our new African American Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino Darren L Goodman.
The parade celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We are honored to have these illustrious leaders of our community be the Grand Marshalls for the MLK DAY Parade and Extravaganza,” said Rich Wallace, president of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce.
The MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza will be held January 16th on San Bernardino’s Westside along Baseline Street, from Mt Vernon Ave. to California St.
“Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, a First 5 children’s zone, fun, and entertainment at the parade and at the Extravaganza at Ann Shirelles Park, between California Street and North Pennsylvania Ave., between West Baseline Street and West 15th Street,” said Lue Dowdy, Parade Chair.
Dowdy added, “We are still accepting applications for entertainers, vendors, food vendors, classic and custom cars, and motorcycles.”
The event starts at 11:00 am at the Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline, with the Parade starting at 1:00 pm and continuing west on Baseline, ending at Anne Shirelles Park on California Street.
Participating organizations for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story newspaper, Empire Talks Back and the Black Health Coalition.
The WestSide Pacesetters Drill Team in prevues MLK Day Parade
The Parade celebrates Dr. King and the civil rights movements greatest achievements: convincing congress to pass the 1964, Civil Rights Act, eliminating legalized racial segregation and the 1965, Voting Rights Act eliminating legal barriers to voting for African Americans in the United States.
San Bernardino Calif. Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce brings back The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza in celebration of Dr. King’s birthday on Monday January 16th, 2023, at 11:00 AM. The Parade starts at Graciano Gomez Elementary School at Mt. Vernon and Baseline and continues west on Baseline ending at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park.
“Everyone is invited to attend the parade and & Extravaganza in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his legacy of freedom. Come rejoice with vendors, music, community booths, First 5 children’s zone, custom and classic cars, motorcycles, fun and entertainment at the parade and after at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park,” said event Chair Lou Dowdy.
Dr. King and the civil rights movements greatest achievements were convincing congress to pass the 1964, landmark Civil Rights Act, essentially eliminating legalized racial segregation in the United States. The legislation made it illegal to discriminate against Blacks or other minorities in hiring, public accommodations, education or transportation, areas which at the time were still very segregated in many places in America.
The San Bernardino City Police Department control traffic.
In 1965, they also convinced congress to pass Voting Rights Act, which was an equally important set of laws that eliminated the remaining barriers to voting for African Americans, who in some locales had been almost completely disenfranchised.
The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. To learn more about Dr. King go to: TheKingCenter.org.
Assemblymember Eloise Reyes and her husband Frank Reyes in a previous MLK Day parade
Set up and staging for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade & Extravaganza begins at 11:00 am at Graciano Gomez Elementary School in San Bernardino and the parade starts at 1:00 PM. The celebration at Arroyo Valley High School and Anne Sherrell’s Park continues until 8:00 PM.
Collaborators for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade include: The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue ProductionsCommunity Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story Newspaper, Empire Talks Back and Black Health Coalition.
About TheSouthern California Black Chamber of Commerce
The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce (SCBCC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) business organization dedicated to improving the economic environment for the minority business community and fostering business development and prosperity. The SCBCC focuses its efforts on four major areas: Economic Development, Community Development, Public Policy, and Membership Services.
The City of San Bernardino can’t fund the repairs so 30 local community organizations and community leaders are raising funds to save the statue.
(SAN BERNARDINO, CA.) Dr. Martin Luther King’s status is showing wear. The 11-foot tall historic monument is deteriorating, the coating of paste wax has dulled, and the base is cracked. To solve the problem more than 30 local groups and community leaders have come together to carry out a sole mission of ‘Saving the MLK Statue’.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. monument has been a treasured landmark since 1981 when it was placed in front of the City Hall of the City of San Bernardino.
The statue is considered the first ‘bigger than life statue’ of Dr. King in the world. It now is in serious need of repair and warrants professional renovation and a plan for sustained maintenance.
The group quickly recognized that city funds are not available for the restoration and maintenance of the statue there will be an effort to raise funds from private and corporate donors, as well as, to seek grants and other sources of revenue.
“We are also committed to ensuring young and old people alike do not forget Dr. Martin Luther King, his mission and legacy and what the statue stands for: Civil Rights, Equality, peaceful co-existence, and respect for the use of power, the struggle, challenge and the plight for the Dream to live on,” said Francis Grice committee member.
Our goal is to have the statue renovated and ready for unveiling at a celebration scheduled for January 2013, said Grice.
The committee is in the process of procuring a contractor for the restoration. The initial renovation will cost approximately $8,500 with an annual maintenance charge of approximately $1,500.
The Black Culture Foundation has agreed to use their 501(C)3 as a conduit to raise and disperse the project’s funds.
The pressing need to restore the statue to its original condition and to insure its maintenance has become the impetus for public-spirited citizens of the greater San Bernardino area to commit themselves to the following objectives:
To assure the ongoing maintenance of the statue through the creation of an Endowment, the income from which would be used for the maintenance of the statue including providing adequate insurance.
To develop a master plan for the beautification and enhancement of the area immediately surrounding the statue including attractive landscaping.
To create an educational component to the statue that would be used by schools in their teaching of American history, attract visitors, and serve to develop a greater appreciation of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To develop a master plan for the beautification and enhancement of the entire City Hall plaza area with the aim being to make it a tourist attraction.
For more information or to submit your donation in person, please contact any member of the MLK Statue Fundraising Sub-Committee: Joseph Williams (909) 754-1068
All checks should be made payable to: Black Culture Foundation. Checks may be mailed to: E. Garcia, P O Box 7288, San Bernardino, CA 92411.
