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Former Russell City Residents and Descendants Hold Public Meetings for Accountability and Restitution
Established in 1853, Russell City, California was a safe haven for Black, Indigenous, Mexicano, and Latinx residents and one of the few areas where they were allowed to live due to redlining and racially restrictive covenants that prevented them from renting or buying homes in other neighboring areas.
In 1963, Russell City was condemned by the City of Hayward and Alameda County as a result of an earlier eminent domain process. This effectively wiped Russell City and the community’s culture off the map, displacing most families permanently from the area.
On Nov. 16, 2021, the Hayward City Council voted unanimously to issue a formal apology for the City’s historical role in the perpetuation of racial discrimination, racially disparate impacts of its property violence, and displacement of residents. Following the apology, the Russell City Reparative Justice Project (RCRJP) was formed in hopes to organize impacted community members and implement reparative justice responses.
Public accountability must go beyond apologies. We will make sure the City of Hayward and Alameda County fully right their wrongs and provide overdue restitution to former Russell City residents and descendants!
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Dr. Fullilove's report titled, Eminent Domain & African Americans, in only 24 years, 2,532 projects were carried out in 992 cities that displaced one million people, two-thirds of them African American, making Blacks five times more likely to be displaced than they should have been given their numbers in the population.
As of June 30, 1967, urban renewal had destroyed 400,000 housing units and built only 10,760 low-rent units to replace them. Click here to read the full article
WIML Is Proud to Announce It Received Its' Second Grant from Liberation Ventures
With the Liberation Ventures grant, WIML will be able to continue its mission to provide education, support, and advocacy for the Black community. WIML can continue to trailblaze its Black Land Back Crusade.
Currently, WIML is assisting Black families nationwide including California, Arkansas, Chicago, Texas, and Alabama.
In recognition of our Veterans, Where Is My Land highlights its support of the Christians.
The Christians have proudly served in the US armed forces for generations. WIML stands with the Christians as they fight for the Gregg County Appraisal District in Texas to update its records to properly reflect the Christian Family’s ownership of surface, mineral, and royalty interest in their land. The full story of the Christian Family's battle will be told in the next couple of weeks. Stay Tuned! Check our social media and website for updates on their story. Follow the Christians on FB @B.C. Christian Estate.
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