For Black families in Altadena, history and community burned alongside homes

A standout for Black generational wealth, the Los Angeles county town also was home to creatives and leaders from Octavia Butler and Sidney Poitier to Eldridge Cleaver

For 34-year-old Stephan McGrue and his family, the historic Altadena area has been a haven for decades. McGrue's relatives - some from Haiti, some from Oklahoma - were drawn to Altadena because of its breathtaking scenery and comfortable living, an opportunity to be surrounded by nature at an affordable price.

What got our Black families there was being able to feel comfortable and feeling like you are living on top of a hill," McGrue said. It was just a comfortable place where we were able to raise generations of families in a way that most people dream of." McGrue and his family all lived within one mile of each other, forming a rectangle", he said.