On June 19th, or the closest Saturday to it, the town of Allensworth was open to the public. Every building in town was open and staffed by docents. Hundreds of people brought picnics, potlucks, barbeques, chairs, tables, blankets and umbrellas and spent the day. Children played and there was always music, but a hush filled the town; it felt like reverence. Outside town limits, the silent fields stretch as far as you can see in three directions, and to the east, the Sierra Nevada Mountains tower above the fields. If you did not know the story of Allensworth, the sense of desolation could be mistaken for depravation. Allensworth has been cheated and deceived but it has never known deprivation.

Everyone who went to Allensworth knew its story; that’s why they came and that’s why Allensworth was so well preserved. For years on end, the only whites, Hispanics, and Sikhs that came in June were activists and organizers. When the county, the state or some greedy farmer or businessman tested the mettle of this town, the friends of Allensworth showed up. Our job was to add our bodies to the count, and to know the story (just in case some reporter should ask). It’s crazy, but in crowds of black people, reporters still ask white people what is going on. I’m here in Kentucky now, but this winter, the nastiest farmer in the county tried to protect his fields, by flooding Allensworth. People back home were out in the fields, bulldozing new barriers and filling sandbags to protect Allensworth. I showed up by email, telephone and text.

Colonel Allensworth was born in Louisville, Kentucky, just about an hour north of my home today. I haven’t found anyone here just yet, who knows his story, so I tell it every chance I get.

I was writing a piece about the Colonel, and Allensworth, but when I went on-line to get the dates right, I changed my mind. Suddenly, Allensworth is being promoted as the go-to place for Juneteenth in California. Suddenly, the train will stop in Allensworth (on Juneteenth). You’d have to know the history of Allensworth to understand the reason that train stop is so infuriating and insulting.

Allensworth meant something personal to the black people, farmworkers, immigrants, and people who were not white, or Christian, who went there to celebrate June 19th. Grief is the only word I can find for my emotions.