A restored version of The Black Family statue was unveiled in San Diego’s Mountain View neighborhood, ending a roughly 40-year absence and helping kick off Juneteenth celebrations in the community.
Originally designed by Rossie Wade in 1974 as a tribute to Black values and community pride, the wooden statue was removed after years of vandalism and decay. The new version has been rebuilt in metal and returned to the site where it once stood.
For Jeffrey Hayes, who spent years advocating for the statue’s restoration and caring for its base, the unveiling was an emotional moment.
“Oh, man. This is, I can’t even explain what it means. You know what I’m saying? To me, to me, it’s so much joy. Happiness.”
Hayes said the statue’s return allows younger generations to connect with their history.
“Now my grandkids get to see something, you know what I’m saying? We get to tell the history of where we came from because it was gone.”
Hayes has remained at the forefront of efforts to bring the statue back to the community.
Reflecting on the significance of the site, Hayes said it represented a place where Black families could gather together.
“This was the only place where Blacks was able to come and and be together as a whole and be a family.”
The unveiling ceremony included music and the burning of sage, a spiritual practice used to protect the statue.
The event also served as the beginning of Juneteenth celebrations in San Diego.
Hayes said he hopes the statue’s return can help inspire unity in the community.
“Because that’s what we need instead of all the the shooting and the killing. You know? So this is what we need to bring some life back to us to make something else happens for a different spirit to pop out.”
Hayes said the finished project exceeded his expectations.
“Yes it is. It’s even better. It’s even better. Thanks to Mike it’s been better than before, to me.”
The comment was a reference to Mike Bradbury, a welding instructor at San Diego College who worked on the project. According to organizers, the new statue was made from carbon steel to help ensure it lasts for years to come.
The restored statue now stands in Mountain View as a renewed symbol of Black history, family and community pride.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.
