A gathering of more than 200 local residents and invited guests celebrated the Juneteenth holiday on the upper slopes of Bruce's Beach Park, the first such event hosted by the city in this historic location.

Isla Garraway, who served on the Bruce's Beach Task Force and is a longtime local resident, said, "The history of Bruce's Beach... like Juneteenth, is bittersweet, because it reminds us of the brutal days of racial violence, but also of how far we have come since then. It motivates us to continue making progress on our nation's values and ideals." 

Gina Young, a descendant of Elizabeth Patterson, who owned a property over 100 years ago on the land of the current park, called the event a chance to "honor the legacy of my ancestors."

Young added, "The story of Bruce's Beach is a potent reminder of the systematic injustice that African Americans have faced, and continue to face, in this country. But it is also a story of enduring hope and the power of community."

Young urged the crowd to "celebrate our rich heritage, remember our past, and strive for a future where equality truly prevails for all."

Donné Ward, president of the Mira Costa Black Scholars Union, said Juneteenth "symbolizes the strength of our ancestors and what we went through, and the strength that we have now to push forward to do greater things."

The day "reminds us of the courage and pride that we Black people should have," Ward said.
"My generation now has the opportunity to live where we want to live, and to be who we want to be."

Singers from the "One Voice" choir of the Faithful Central Bible Church performed several songs, concluding with a cheerful and energetic take on "The Best is Yet to Come," which features the lyric, "Today is the first day of the best days of your life." With the audience standing and clapping along, they concluded, a capella, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"

Tanya Taylor of Black in Mayberry, who helped push the city to host the event, gave a passionate argument for the meaning of the day. Quoting civil rights leader John Lewis, Taylor said, "Freedom is a continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more just society."

Taylor added her own challenge: "It is not enough to simply celebrate freedom on Juneteenth. You must ask yourself whose freedom are we celebrating, and why? What freedoms do they lack, and why? ... Most importantly, will you act to safeguard what freedoms we have, and fight for those we are not afforded?"

Asia Bryant-Wilkerson concluded with a poem written for the occasion, echoing Taylor's message that freedom is a struggle:

"How much will it cost me to be free, without conditions?
For my existence to not be a protest?
Will it cost me my joy?
What about my peace?"