Sidney Dearing

Sidney Allen "Sid" Dearing (March 8, 1870 – October 6, 1953) was an American businessperson. He owned the Creole Cafe in Oakland, California. Dearing was Black Seminole, and in the 1920s he and his family were the subject of racial discrimination and hate crimes in Piedmont, California.

Early life

Sidney Dearing was born on March 8, 1870, in Fredericksburg, Texas. He was Black and Seminole.

He moved to California in 1907. His first marriage to Lizzie Williams ended with her death. His second marriage was to Irene Davis in 1920. The Creole Cafe was shut down during the Prohibition-era. The house was purchased by his white mother-in-law Julia Davis. She then signed over the property to her daughter and son-in-law. Eventually after many legal hearings the family was forced to sell the home in May 1924, for US$10,500. Daring and Irene Davis divorced in May 1925. After the divorce, Irene and the two children moved to New York.

Death and legacy Dearing died on October 6, 1953, in Alameda County, California, and he was buried in Alhambra Cemetery in Martinez, California. As of 2026, the Sidney and Irene Dearing Memorial Project is not completed.

In 2026, the descendant of the Dearings filed a lawsuit claiming racial discrimination and fraudulent condemnation of property against the city of Piedmont. They also claim the police did not intervene to stop the violence.