Russell City, a small unincorporated community in the San Francisco East Bay, had been a bustling black community. It was a vibrant destination for Black southerners traveling to California through the Great Migration during and just after World War II. Russell City, Gloria Moore’s parents came from Arkansas in the early 1940s and started Russell City. This dynamic community soon transformed into a haven for families seeking out possibility and success. In 1963, the community was razed to the ground, displacing 205 families. Almost two decades later, the scars of this calamity continue to affect its citizens to this day.
Russell City was more than a neighborhood, it was an integral Black Town with its own churches, schools and institutions. Residents enjoyed a local school with dedicated teachers and an impressive orchestra, a fire brigade that ensured safety, and a blues club that drew renowned musicians like Ray Charles and Etta James. When neighbors looked out for each other, it fostered a deeper sense of community. This insular, close-knit community provided the bedrock of their daily lives.
Moore paints her recollections of Russell City as “rich, pastoral, and communal.” She remembers her mother and our grandmother’s home where they raised their five children among a close-knit community. The richness of community life was upended in a moment as the city was razed to the ground.
“We lost everything. Our community was erased. My parents, they lost their dignity.” – Gloria Moore
Although Russell City has since been wiped off the map, the destruction left deep scars on its former residents. For many, the trauma of displacement is not far behind. Marian Johnson, another former resident, reflects on the aspirations of families who had purchased plots of land with the hope of building generational wealth. Johnson states,
“They bought plots of land so that their children wouldn’t have to pay mortgages, so their children could generate generational wealth by not having to pay rent.” – Marian Johnson
The destruction of Russell City was more than an urban planning project. It was part of a larger systemic problem. Carolle Fife articulates this sentiment, noting that “this is something historically Black folks have been going through in every urban center, and now even rural spaces throughout this country, because of systemic racism.”
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to recognize the past injustices that communities such as Russell City have experienced. In 2021, Hayward declared a formal apology for its role in the community’s destruction. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom made a big down payment by committing $12 million in 2024 to support racial equity focused initiatives. He issued the first formal apology from the state for its role in slavery.
Alameda County approved $750,000 in reparations funds exclusively for former residents of Russell City. These common sense measures acknowledge the trauma that families who have faced displacement, especially Black families across this nation, have experienced. They want to address the systemic inequities that still remain.
Thankfully, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is doing their part to preserve the history that is Russell City. An East Bay exhibit focused on Black displacement chronicles the rise and fall of Russell City. It really drives home the need to protect and preserve these formative experiences.
Fogarty wants people to understand that this problem is embedded in local history. Yet, at the same time, it reflects the larger displacement and injustice that Black communities in every city throughout the United States face.
“As funding for the arts and humanities goes, stories that are less known will disappear.” – Brandi Summers
Dania Talley makes a beautiful case for just how important it is to see these pasts as lived experiences. She urges that we recognize and learn about these traumas.
“Look at what’s happening. There is an overt governmental attack on these kinds of stories.” – Lori Fogarty
The story of Russell City still resonates today as communities nationwide face down the same scourge of displacement and inequity. The stories of its residents serve as reminders of resilience amidst adversity and highlight the ongoing fight against systemic racism and for social justice.
“This is a very local story, but it’s also a national story.” – Lori Fogarty
Dania Talley underscores the importance of understanding these histories as lived experiences, reinforcing the need for acknowledgment and education about such traumas.
The legacy of Russell City remains relevant today as communities across the nation grapple with similar challenges. The stories of its residents serve as reminders of resilience amidst adversity and highlight the ongoing fight against systemic racism and for social justice.