L.A. FIRE BURNS HISTORIC BLACK TOWN

Wildfires do not choose their victims, yet the recent southern California blazes reveal the underlying racial disparities within a community.

High winds and lack of water supplies led to wildfires in the Los Angeles area tragically claiming the lives of at least 25 people, forcing about 180,000 residents to evacuate and reducing entire neighbourhoods to ashes. One such area, Altadena, located 22 kilometres (14 miles) northeast of Los Angeles, has a population of 42,000. During the 1960s Civil Rights era, Altadena was one of the few places in California where Black people could own homes. As a result, Black home ownership in Altadena surged to 81 per cent, nearly double the national average. Sadly, what’s been called the ‘Eaton fire’ destroyed about 1,400 homes in Altadena and neighbouring Pasadena.

In this video, Kahlil Greene, who calls himself the ‘Gen Z historian’ on TikTok, said residents fear the government overlooking them as it directs aid toward more affluent areas like Malibu. Many are also anxious about receiving adequate insurance payouts to help them rebuild their lives. Residents expressed their frustration, noting the absence of fire trucks in Altadena during the early morning on 8 January, leaving them feeling their community was not a priority.

Video credit: @kahlil_greene (X)

Sources:

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/25622/chapter/4#18

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/lieutenant-willa-brown

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/l-wildfires-leave-diverse-historic-altadena-ashes-rubble-rcna187065

https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/altadena-left-devastated-by-deadly-eaton-fire-everything-is-gone/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/01/14/altadena-california-fires-burned-rebuilt/77623737007/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/13/homes-burned-los-angeles-wildfires/77669976007/