Jan 15, 2025 Story by: Editor
A historic Black community, rooted in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, has been devastated by the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County.
Overview:
The Eaton Fire has destroyed much of the unincorporated area of Altadena, California, located in San Gabriel Valley and the Verdugos regions. This area, home to many Black-owned homes and businesses, has been nearly leveled.
Details:
The community, with a population of 42,000—18% of whom are Black—has been severely impacted by wildfires that have claimed 24 lives and destroyed over 12,000 structures across the county. The Eaton Fire alone accounted for more than 1,000 destroyed structures and at least five deaths in Altadena, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Altadena is also where pioneering Black science fiction author Octavia E. Butler, known for her novel Parable of the Sower, is buried. In a poignant twist, the cemetery where she rests was also damaged by the fire, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.
The Scope of Destruction:
Satellite imagery analyzed by Axios revealed that significant portions of Altadena were engulfed in flames or reduced to ash within days of the fire’s onset. High winds and drought conditions accelerated the fire’s spread into areas long considered protected.
The entire community was ordered to evacuate as the fire ravaged churches, landmarks, and much of downtown. Many returning residents found their homes, passed down through generations, reduced to rubble.
Impact on Communities of Color:
While much media attention has focused on the destruction of affluent neighborhoods and celebrity homes, Altadena’s tragedy highlights the impact on middle-class communities and people of color. In a community where 58% of residents are people of color—including Black, Latino, and Asian Americans—the losses have been profound.
Shawn Brown, a Black homeowner and founder of a charter school, told The Associated Press that both her home and school were destroyed. Her message to others in the community: “Stand strong, rebuild, continue the generational progress of African-Americans.”
Historical Significance:
In 1960, 95% of Altadena’s residents were white, but this changed after President Lyndon Johnson’s Civil Rights legislation, including the 1968 Fair Housing Act. By 1970, the Black population grew to 27%, as Altadena became a haven for Black middle-class families escaping housing discrimination elsewhere.
The area’s historical importance is underscored by figures like Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver, who lived in Altadena with his family in the 1970s.
Black Homeownership in Altadena:
Before the fire, the Black homeownership rate in Altadena was 81.5%, nearly double the national rate for Black Americans, according to The Associated Press.
Looking Ahead:
Rebuilding efforts in communities of color often face challenges, including navigating insurance claims and federal disaster relief programs. Altadena, located in a wildfire-prone region, may need to consider proactive measures like fire-prevention barriers—a solution envisioned in Octavia E. Butler’s speculative fiction. Source: Axios
