How a group of Black people is rejuvenating a neighbourhood

West (centre) talking with college students about a new land trust that is aiming to establish a foothold for Black ownership in rapidly gentrifying Leimert Park. Photos: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Tony Jolly sounded tired. When I caught up with him in June, it had only been a few hours since tens of thousands of people had descended on Los Angeles’ Leimert Park neighbourhood in the United States to celebrate Juneteenth – and since the much-hyped, multi-block festival that he helped organise for the holiday abruptly went from phenomenal to frightening.

“It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” he told me wistfully.