SAN BERNARDINO, CA— John Coleman is known as the People’s Photographer, for his commitment to documenting events and activities presented for and by the Inland Empire African American communities. His consistent and dependable documentation has been witnessed in the local African American Newspapers for over thirty years.
On Monday December 15, 2025, the Westside Action Group (WAG), a thirty-seven year old organization of Black Men, marked ‘John Coleman Day’ as a thank you salute to Coleman. The salute took place at the regular Monday Noon meeting of the group. The luncheon was seasoned with testimonials that professed love, admiration and respect for John’s volunteer effort.
The Westside Action Group (WAG) recently honored longtime community photographer, Joh Coleman. Redlands resident John Coleman has been photographing African Americans in Redlands and nearby cities since the 1980s.
Coleman began photographing African Americans to show them in a positive light as they go about their daily lives. Now retired from a career in administration and admissions University of California at Riverside, Coleman continues to take pictures.
“The African American community is an interest I have that the camera has given me an ability to express,” Coleman said. “Most pictures in the media of people of color are negative, and I want to show the African American community as they live and in a positive way. I just record people living life, show what they are doing.”
He began photographing personal events and now photographs others’ family gatherings, public events, fundraisers. He considers his photography a volunteer effort, as he donates his services to the event and sends the pictures to those involved. Coleman also sends his photos for local African American papers, so they may be published.
