Eaton Fire decimates one of LA's historic Black communities
LOS ANGELES - Several communities across Los Angeles County have been completely decimated by the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires, including a historic Black community.
After the Civil Rights movement in the 1970s and when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Fair Housing Act, many Black families migrated to Altadena.
One of the men who moved his family to the beloved LA community during that time was Willie Jackson. Now, he is among the thousands who have lost everything in the Eaton Fire.
When speaking to FOX 11’s Susan Hirasuna, Jackson sang a gospel song while wearing a hat that red "God is good all the time," as a testament to his faith, even with destruction surrounding him and the community he called him for decades.
"I learned to trust in Jesus," he sang.
The 81-year-old not only lost his home, but everything of sentimental value that was inside, including pictures of his parents.
Due to redlining, he was unable to purchase a home in nearby cities.
"What redlining does is not allow minorities to acquire loans in designated areas," he explained. "So, if you can’t get a loan, obviously, you can’t buy the house. And then there were cases when realtors wouldn’t sell you the house."
Willie Jackson, 81, of Altadena.
He was one of the first to move to Altadena and eventually, the neighborhood became an enclave for African Americans.
By some accounts, Altadena has 80% Black homeownership – double the national average. The homes also symbolize the generational wealth that was wiped out in a matter of hours.
Rebuilding will take years, and Mr. Jackson may never be able to replace the instruments and studio equipment that allowed him to perform and stream for the Don Darnell Ministries.
He’s hoping, at the very least, he can replace his pro-level Yamaha 88 key synthesizer, so he can play again for the congregants.