A brief history of race relations in the United States can be told from La Mesa’s MacArthur Park.

More than a thousand miles to the east is Galveston, Texas, where the last group of enslaved Black Americans were told they were free exactly 157 years ago this weekend.

To the north is San Francisco, where California’s historic Reparations Task Force last met to discuss how the state should address slavery’s effects.

And less than a mile to the south are where two banks and a historic building burned down during racial justice protests in 2020.

On Sunday, hundreds of people flooded into the park to both mark the moment when everybody in the nation knew they were free, and to help a community continue to heal after a tumultuous few years.

“I am reaping the benefit of the freedom of Black people,” Damaja Jones, head coach of Helix High’s storied football program, told the crowd. “I pray that I can push it forward.”

While Juneteenth events were scheduled around the county, La Mesa’s was the first of its kind for both the city and several attendees.

Planning for the four-hour celebration began about a year ago, and the approximately $6,000 cost was covered mainly through donations. Dozens of volunteers stepped up, including some from local schools.

More than two dozen vendors spread out on the grass, offering everything from voter registration forms to handmade ornaments wrapped in Kente cloth.

A multi-colored bounce house rocked under the weight of little feet. Trivia questions (“Who is Opal Lee?”) were printed on yard signs. (Answer: The 95-year-old whose advocacy for making June 19 a federal holiday led her to be called the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”)

Local officials walked among the lawn chairs, from La Mesa Police Chief Ray Sweeney to U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs, a Democrat running for reelection in the 51st district.

One of Jacobs’ first votes in office last year was to make Juneteenth an official holiday. The event was crucial to celebrate, partially because it helped everyone “remember all the work left to do,” Jacobs said in a brief interview.

Throughout the afternoon, a stream of speakers took to a microphone on a hill. The Martin Luther King Jr. Choir belted out spirituals, while Avery Caldwell, an assistant professor of graphic design at San Diego State University, noted that Father’s Day was a fitting time to reflect on kindness and acceptance.

La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis read the words spoken in Galveston after the end of the Civil War: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

When the order was read aloud again by Caldwell, one woman in the audience said quietly, “Thank you, Lord.”

Everyone stood for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often known as the Black National Anthem, and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The latter was supposed to be sung by a group of friends, including Ken Mills, a Navy veteran and music producer. But every one of Mills’ collaborators had dropped out at the last minute — one for unexpected foot surgery.

Luckily, Mills had backups: His son Kenneth, 22, and daughter Ari, 18. Their voices cut through the air in a striking three-part harmony.

After the anthems finished, local Councilmember Jack Shu remarked, “La Mesa needed that.”

On a dance floor, three students from Mount Miguel High School’s step team built a rhythm with their palms and legs.

The dance has roots in South Africa, where miners would pound their boots and hit their thighs to create stunning sounds. While the school used to have step years ago, this team only began in March.

The coach, Jasmine Eaddy, wanted their first performance to be a Juneteenth celebration, so she Googled events nearby.

“The butterflies went away, right?” Eaddy asked the students afterward.

Amiyah Morgan, an incoming senior, nodded. “Hands hurt,” she added.

The team was also embraced by Patricia Dillard, one of the event’s main organizers.

In an interview, Dillard said she hadn’t worried about things coming together. There were simply too many volunteers who’d put in too much time.

“We outperformed our expectations,” Dillard said, looking out into the park. “Next year is gonna be even better.”

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