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By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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KEY TAKEAWAYS |
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Ben Crump has filed multiple wrongful death lawsuits against Southern California Edison for wildfire negligence. |
A mortgage moratorium is being advocated to protect homeowners in Altadena from financial exploitation. |
Wildfire risks threaten the legacy of Black homeownership in Altadena, a community with a strong history of resilience. |
Community town halls are being held to provide vital resources to families impacted by the wildfires. |
Systemic policy changes, including power line de-energization, are necessary to prevent future disasters. |
Crump’s legal actions highlight the intersection of environmental disasters and racial inequities in Los Angeles. |
Wildfires, Lawsuits, and Black Homeownership: Ben Crump’s Fight for Justice
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is leading a vigorous legal fight against Southern California Edison (SCE) after the tragic Los Angeles wildfires. His lawsuits reveal failures that turned community areas into disaster zones.
The first wrongful death lawsuit is for Evelyn Cathirell, a victim of the Eaton fire in Altadena. Crump’s legal plan carefully shows SCE’s dangerous mistakes. The lawsuit claims the utility company ignored key preventive steps like clearing vegetation and shutting down power lines.
Preserving Black Homeownership: A Critical Mission
Altadena is more than a place; it tells a story of Black strength built through fighting housing discrimination. Now, the wildfires threaten this strong legacy of community stability.
Crump’s work goes beyond the courtroom. He is actively working with California leaders to introduce a mortgage pause. This plan protects homeowners from unfair financial practices that could destroy decades of family wealth.
Community Defense: Strategic Resource Mobilization
Knowing that legal battles need community help, Crump and his co-counsel Anne Andrews have started strong town halls. These events offer vital resources, including:
- FEMA guidance
- Support with understanding insurance
- Help finding missing loved ones
- Free meals for residents affected
- Online access for those who can’t attend in person
Policy Transformation: Preventing Future Disasters
These efforts are about more than quick relief. Crump’s team is pushing for significant policy changes, such as:
- Mandatory power line shutdowns
- Better evacuation plans
- Strong community resilience plans
These changes are proactive steps to stop future disasters that often hit marginalized communities hardest.
Acres Burned
Total acres affected
Structures Destroyed
Buildings lost
Residents Evacuated
People displaced
Contextualizing the Struggle
The wildfires show deeper problems. They highlight how environmental disasters connect with racial inequalities. Altadena’s Black community, which has overcome challenges like redlining, now faces another threat to its stability.
Altadena’s Black residents have long faced barriers to homeownership. Decades ago, practices like redlining kept them from buying homes in certain areas. This discriminatory policy denied mortgages to people based on race. As a result, Black families were confined to specific neighborhoods.
Over time, these communities built strong networks and accumulated wealth. Homeownership allowed them to pass assets to the next generation. However, the wildfires now endanger this stability.
Environmental Justice and Marginalized Communities
Environmental disasters often hit marginalized communities the hardest. Lack of resources and inadequate infrastructure make recovery challenging. In Altadena, the wildfires are more than a natural calamity. They bring attention to social and economic inequalities.
Ben Crump’s legal actions aim to address these disparities. He seeks to protect vulnerable populations by holding corporations accountable. This approach combines legal strategy with social advocacy.
Securing Generational Wealth Through Legal Action
Generational wealth is essential for community advancement. For many Black families, homes are their most valuable assets. Losing them could erase years of progress.
Crump’s push for a mortgage moratorium is a vital step. It helps families avoid foreclosure during tough times. Safeguarding homes allows the community to maintain its economic footing.
What Is Redlining?

Redlining: A discriminatory practice where services like mortgages are denied to residents of certain areas based on race. This policy, now illegal, led to economic disparities and segregated neighborhoods. Understanding redlining helps explain current housing inequalities.
Accountability and Transformation
Ben Crump’s approach shows that justice is more than legal cases. It needs complete plans addressing system failures while empowering communities.
The lawsuits against Southern California Edison are about more than individual cases. They challenge corporate negligence and prove community strength.
As these legal battles continue, one message stays clear: communities will not remain silent victims. Using every legal and advocacy tool, they will fight to protect their homes, histories, and futures.
FAQ
Q: Who is Ben Crump and what is his mission regarding the wildfires?
A: Ben Crump is a civil rights attorney leading legal efforts against Southern California Edison for their alleged negligence related to the Los Angeles wildfires. His mission focuses on seeking justice for victims and preserving Black homeownership, particularly in Altadena.
Q: What specific actions is Crump taking in response to the wildfires?
A: Crump has filed lawsuits, including a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of victim Evelyn Cathirell. He is also collaborating with political leaders for a mortgage moratorium to protect affected homeowners from financial exploitation.
Q: How is the community involved in Crump’s efforts?
A: Crump and his team are hosting community town halls to offer vital resources, such as FEMA guidance, insurance assistance, free meals, and support for locating missing individuals. These gatherings aim to mobilize community support for those impacted.
Q: What systemic changes is Crump advocating for?
A: Crump’s team is pushing for mandatory power line de-energization, improved evacuation plans, and the establishment of community resilience frameworks to prevent future disasters that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Q: What broader issues does this situation reveal?
A: The wildfires highlight structural vulnerabilities and the intersection of environmental disasters with racial inequities, particularly affecting Black communities like Altadena that have long struggled against discriminatory practices.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.