Audio By Carbonatix
Dr. James Johnson’s roots in Miami run as deep as those of the City Cemetery’s trees. His mother was born here in 1897, the year after Miami became an incorporated city. His parents lived in what was then Old South Miami, an area that has seen a tremendous cultural shift. “This was a community of refugees, assiduous workers who helped to build this city,” explains Johnson. Today the area is better known as Little Havana. To celebrate our city’s evolution and diversity, everyone is invited to the 2006 Happy Birthday Miami Weekend Celebration. The fun begins with Cultural Fridays, held across from the Tower Theater on Friday, July 28, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Today the celebrations will conclude with the 21st annual Post-Centennial Tea at the St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 3500 Charles Ave., Coconut Grove. “We’re seeking out the city’s elders. The community is beckoning to its former residents to celebrate their roots,” says Johnson, one of the event’s organizers. Admission is free, and the birthday tea party begins at 4:00 p.m. Call 954-742-2117.
July 28-30
