GREENFIELD — Hundreds of people congregated at Beacon Field on Monday for what Mayor Roxann Wedegartner called a “quintessential Juneteenth celebration,” unifying the community for an afternoon of food, art and Black history.

“It is just a celebration of the resilience and fortitude and perseverance of our Black communities in America from the end of slavery until now,” Wedegartner said in a brief speech. “We have so much further to go, but this is a day that we can celebrate.”

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Americans in Texas were emancipated. Organized for a second straight year by Mpress Bennu, who strives to “create events that bring the community together,” Monday’s celebration featured dozens of vendors, musical performances, city departments, a youth parade and the city’s first “Taste of Greenfield” event.

“Aren’t you proud of us as a community?” Bennu asked those in attendance during a welcome address. “Aren’t we beautiful?”

A diverse variety of booths spanned Beacon Field, ranging from mayoral campaigns to central Asian wares. Black culture-oriented tables were few in number comparatively, but those operating them relished the opportunity to represent. Rodney Madison, a Black activist and artist whose paintings depict Black life and perspectives, expressed gratitude for having a safe space for expression.

“Lately, I’ve been feeling like a bit of a coward,” Madison said. “People used to call me brave, but these days, I’m actually nervous about getting hurt out there. Instead of marching and blocking traffic, I’m wanting to send my same message by showing my artwork.”

The artist observed that since “people are visual by nature,” the beauty of art as a medium serves a unique purpose in positioning a cause to resonate with an audience.

“As things change in society — and I feel like things are going backwards at this point — we have to get back to the basics of our struggle,” Madison said.

Nicole Coker, a representative of Hampshire County’s Positively Africana, a health, wellness and multicultural education organization, called it “an honor and a privilege” to be selling handmade wares associated with a variety of African cultures in a predominantly white area.

“I think it’s a beautiful time to be here,” she said, noting that this was Positively Africana’s first time in Greenfield. “It’s a special occasion where our culture should be embraced.”

A drum circle led by Ghanaian drummer Alpha Kabisco Kaba, of Holyoke, was perhaps the most immersive cultural experience available Monday. Those who took up a “djembe” hand drum were not only taught rhythms, but a lesson on the word “djembe” itself. Drummer Chris Keniley, who assisted with Kaba’s demonstration, explained that “djembe” means “come together in peace” in Mali.

“It’s a ceremonial drum to bring everybody together, and that’s what we’re doing — bringing everybody together in unity and togetherness with our cultures,” Keniley told the drum circle. “Coming together in peace will win.”

The drummers disassembled shortly after 1 p.m. to make way for the event’s series of guest speakers, which included Wedegartner, Greenfield Savings Bank President and CEO Thomas Meshako, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessye Deane and Girls Club of Greenfield Executive Director Steve Rickman. While each speech was short, each collectively provided a reminder as to why everybody was gathered at Beacon Field.

“Every single day of the year, we still need to remember and appreciate the responsibility we all hold to learning our blind spots and eradicating discrimination and injustice in all forms,” Deane stressed. “We have to take it upon ourselves as individuals, as community members and, most importantly, as parents to be active and engaged change agents, to help create a Franklin County that is deserving of all of its residents.”

“[Juneteenth is] remembering that as a Black man, the journey doesn’t just start with me. It starts with the village,” Rickman said. “It starts with recognizing that the village isn’t perfect, but lays a roadmap for what’s to come. … The message is clear: That we all have work to do.”

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

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