Los Angeles, California and surrounding cities are grappling with devastating wildfires that have consumed thousands of acres of land and claimed 24 lives. These days have highlighted the frequency of wildfires, and has gone on record as the most destructive in California history.
North of Pasadena, California is a community of 42,000 people that has been destroyed by the wildfires. Altadena has a long-standing, rich history and has been hit hardest by the wildfires and burned away over 12,000 structures across the county. The historically Black city has been reduced to ashes, displacing families who’ve lost everything.
Altadena holds a special place in the history of Black people, particularly after the Great Migration. The city became home to a significant Black population in the early 20th century and has played a vital role in the development of Black culture and community in Southern California.
Altadena’s origins date back to the 19th century, during the period of land grants and early settler colonialism in California. However, the community’s historical significance was truly cemented with the arrival of Black people between 1916 and 1970. While Los Angeles was already becoming a popular destination for Black migrants seeking better work and education opportunities, Altadena offered a unique opportunity for Black people to break through redlining, finally giving them access to home loans and property.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Altadena became home to a significant Black population, many of whom were professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs who had fled racial discrimination in the South. This era saw the development of Black communities and institutions in the area, including churches, schools, and businesses. Some of these early pioneers in Altadena included Black families who built successful businesses and bought in this well-regarded neighborhood to build generational wealth for their families.
What’s happening to Altadena is reminiscent of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. Although the circumstances are different, the common thread is homes being burned down and years of Black success erased. It too was a community of great possibilities and prosperity for Black people. Places to work. Places to live. Places to learn and shop and play. Places to worship.
The destruction of property in Altadena is only one piece of the financial devastation that the Eaton fire has brought. The much bigger picture is a sobering kind of inheritance: the incalculable loss of what could have been, and the generational wealth that might have shaped and secured the fortunes of Black children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
The Altadena cemetery, where science fiction novelist Octavia Butler is buried, caught fire but had minimal damage. She grew up in Pasadena and spent much of her life in Southern California. Butler wrote about 2025 wildfires caused by climate change in her popular novel, Parable of the Sower. The book was written in 1993 and set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. “We had a fire today,” reads a February 1, 2025, diary entry in the book, referring to a small fire that signals the destructive fires to come in the story. Butler predicted the disasters would have the hardest impact on marginalized communities.
Soon, the crucial effort will be to document the legacy of the city. It will be the work of everyone from local historians and activists to community leaders and residents, so that Altadena’s importance is documented in the broader context of Black history.
For seven years, I lived in Riverside, California which is about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. I spent my weekends in L.A., and fell in love with everything the city has to offer: the weather. The food. The vibe and culture. I moved there to expand my career as a writer and journalist, and to pursue my dreams. It provided me a blend of opportunity, inspiration, and environment to fuel my creativity. I achieved things there I wouldn’t anywhere else. It is indeed the city of angels. The Golden State. There is no city like Los Angeles. It still is that city and always will be.
It’s upsetting to see friends under evacuation warnings, losing homes, and, in some heartbreaking cases, loved ones. As we speak, the people in Los Angeles and surrounding cities don’t need think-pieces or conspiracy theories. Imagine losing everything you own; everything you’ve worked for. People have died. It doesn’t matter who they are or what their bank account says; the people of Los Angeles need compassion and help.
How You Can Help
Here is a list of displaced Black families that have requested donations. The two largest Black law firms in California, The Cochran Law Firm and Ivie McNeil Wyatt Purcell and Diggs, have started a GoFundMe to assist those impacted by the Eaton fires. 100 percent of the funds go towards those in need.
You can donate groceries and essentials to Instacart LA Fire Relief. To start giving, you can open the Instacart App or go to www.instacart.com and tap the Community Carts. From there, you can select any participating YMCA and shop from the lists of essential items.
