Shattered in the Fire: A Historic Black Haven Shattered in the Fire: A Historic Black Haven
The New York Times
For Black residents, Altadena represented something more than suburban living. It was a foothold in generational prosperity.
Scenic and charming and tucked into the foothills, Altadena seemed like a secret just outside the reaches of Los Angeles.
“I felt it was like back home — peaceful and calm and a little secluded,” said Shirley Taylor, who was raised in North Carolina and arrived in 1979.
The town also offered a striking element: a flourishing community of middle-class Black families. Ms. Taylor, a manager for the Social Security Administration, knew she and her two sons would fit right in.
She purchased a three-bedroom Craftsman on Las Flores Drive for about $75,000 that offered a view of the mountains from the master bedroom.
“Oh, it was beautiful,” she said. “I called it ‘my little country home.’”
Around them, a community thrived. Everyone was an auntie or uncle or cousin. Neighborhood barbecues were lively events. Children played in the streets and hurried home when someone rang a bell at sunset. A network of artists, county employees, blue-collar workers and retirees bloomed.
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