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Eugene Jackson pointed out to a crowd of hundreds in East Palo Alto’s Bell Street Park on June 21, naming youth he knew and families sitting in lawn chairs in the grass.
“It’s the blending of music, people – you see your elders and you learn where your culture came from,” Jackson said.
Like residents across American, Jackson was celebrating Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the day that Union General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to proclaim the end of slavery. But for residents in East Palo Alto, the day has special resonance. It’s also a time to reflect on the multigenerational communities and advocacy in a city established by Black and Latino activists.
The city of East Palo Alto and local nonprofit Live and Peace hosted their annual Juneteenth celebration at Bell Street Park, drawing hundreds who spent the day dancing, supporting local businesses and watching live performances.
Local DJs kicked off the event at the park that was lined with gleaming lowrider cars posted up on their hydraulics, mid-bounce. The music radiated throughout the neighborhood streets and drew in residents ready to dance. Some of the attendees moved into the city in the ‘50s. Others, not old enough to stand, held their parents’ hands as they danced.
Jackson, a restorative justice director at Live in Peace, organized the event that he hoped could cater to younger generations and older ones through a mix of music and activities.
While he was disappointed that the County of San Mateo decided to host another Juneteenth celebration in the city at the same time, he was grateful for the attendance that picked up in the afternoon.
Families brought their own blankets and chairs and settled underneath tree shade. Other visitors shopped at booths by local vendors who sold custom clothing, jewelry and snacks.
Local nonprofits and organizations such as the East Palo Alto Archive and Cañada College also tabled at the event.
Youth dancers with East Palo Alto studio Step it up Dance performed at the front of the crowd, wearing matching black T-shirts and camo pants, and attendees danced along with them.
Alex Woods, who grew up in Menlo Park, said the celebration was a time to exhibit unity.
“We have to show our youth that we all have things in common,” he said. “We have to show them that we can come together and coexist.”
Growing up, he said, he saw first-hand how division in the city could negatively affect youth, but the Juneteenth celebration was a display of togetherness.
“I love it out here,” Woods said looking over the crowd.
As the celebration went on, kids played in the park, others danced up on stage during the music performances and some peeked underneath the lowrider cars, lifted up on their back wheels.
Attendees ran up to loved ones, nearly knocking them over in an embrace, and some local officials, including Mayor Martha Barragan and council member Ruben Abrica, helped table and greeted guests.
Dorsey Nunn, who has spent decades advocating for criminal justice reform, also tabled at the event in aims of gathering support for legislation that could abolish involuntary servitude in jails.
His family moved to East Palo Alto in 1955, in a time when there weren’t many Black families, he said, but he watched as the city quickly developed and more Black families moved in.
“Its good to be around my people,” he said, motioning toward the crowd.
Editor’s note: This version corrects the name of the organization that helped produce the event to Live in Peace.
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