In 1960, Altadena was 95% white, but during the Civil Rights Movement, it transformed into a hub for Black artists and activists. As Altadena evolved into a majority Black community, its residents expressed themselves in ways that became the inspiration of Black people across the country.
#1 Octavia Butler: “We had a fire today,” reads a sentence from Butler’s 1993 book, Parable of the Sower, set in Los Angeles in February 2025. This afrofuturistic novel described a society ravaged by climate change and social inequality. Butler, who lived briefly in Altadena, used science fiction to reimagine our struggles and fight for liberation.
#2 Charles White: White, who spent his last years in Altadena, used his artwork to showcase the power of Black people to be “the catalysts of change” despite tragedies like the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. In the 1960s, White’s mentorship of young Black artists helped establish the Black arts scene in Los Angeles.
#3: Juanita De Vaughn: When the 16th St Baptist Church was bombed in 1963, De Vaughn used her position as a school nutritionist to obtain food for the meal following the funeral of the four girls. After moving to Altadena with her husband in 1967, she dedicated herself to teaching and voter registration.
Fire might have destroyed Altadena’s homes and businesses, but its legacy is resilient and creative. In the tradition of their community, they will rebuild and continue striving for Black liberation. We all will.