Historic Black neighborhood of Altadena destroyed in Los Angeles Wildfires

The Eaton Fire, one of four wildfires in Los Angeles County, has destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and structures in Altadena, displacing Black families who’ve shaped the historic community for generations.

Eaton fire

While there is much talk about celebrities and the wealthy being affected by the historic fire, conversations are few about the working, middle-class, and Black families that have been impacted.

Among the four wildfires that tore through the region, the Palisades and Eaton fires have collectively devastated over 30,000 acres, destroying an estimated 10,000 structures.

Altadena neighborhood impacted

The Eaton fire has disproportionately impacted these communities including many Black residents who have lived in Altadena. Caught in the devastation are historical landmarks, small businesses and family homes.

The history of Altadena

The town of Altadena has a deep rooted racial history, known as a safe haven for Black families, professionals, and creatives, who sought refuge and asylum from systemic racism.

During the Great Migration, many African Americans moved west to escape the Jim Crow South. Altadena’s affordability made it an alluring neighborhood.

Black homeownership

By the 1920s and 1930s, Altadena became a thriving Black community, overcoming redlining to create a rich cultural and social network.

Over the decades, Altadena continued to grow into a diverse suburb with an appreciable Black population, going from under 4% in 1960 to 31% in 2000. Black homeownership grew, creating a foundation for economic growth and stability that spanned across generations. Now, devastating wildfires have decimated this historic neighborhood into pieces.

Altadena residents path forward

Homeowners of Altadena are now faced with questions and uncertainties. Where do they go from here?

For communities of color like Altadena, they are not only faced with the physical destruction but the systemic challenges ahead.

In California, thousands of homeowners have recently been dropped by their fire insurers. CNN reports that between 2020 and 2022, 2.8 million homeowner policies in California were not renewed, including 531,000 in areas affected by the current wildfires.

The only plausible thing that is left, is holding onto to hope and faith, to face the rebuilding process head-on.

Rapper Anthony Tobi, professionally known as Fat Tony, is among the Altadena residents who lost his home in the fire. He is one of the many residents who have started a GoFundMe to help with the rebuilding process.

“I’m not the only one suffering through this moment and feel for everyone in our city dealing with loss,” the fundraiser reads.

GoFundMe