Much has been made these last couple of weeks of the wildfires and their devastation within the greater Los Angeles area. Many people have been displaced and even lost their homes entirely, including Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Reddick, who gave an emotional interview about the topic last week.

While much has been made of the Hollywood stars who lost their homes, it’s worth noting that it was not only just the rich and famous who were affected.

The community of Altadena, which had been a haven for the Black middle class for years, was devastated. Generations of Black families who had relatives move to the community during the period known as The Great Migration lost their homes and livelihoods to the Eaton fire. People such as Octavia Butler, Sidney Potier, Eldridge Cleaver, and Jackie Robinson were some prominent Black figures calling Altadena home over the years. The Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, which allowed Black folks to buy homes and build a legacy in places such as Altadena when such opportunities were not possible in many other neighborhoods.

As folks struggle to rebuild it’s important to keep them in mind as losing a home is not something one recovers from quickly. To donate to a GoFund for members of the Altadena community, you can click here.