The factory-laden strip of West Hayward land may be an ordinary feature of the city to many, but the city’s minority community knows well that this area is a shell of its former self. Known as Russell City, the unincorporated area established in 1853 was once a thriving neighborhood for the local Black and Latino populations.
Families owned livestock, and R&B singers like Etta James and Ray Charles would stop to play there routinely. It was blissful. It was peaceful and idyllic. And then the bulldozers came. In 1964, the City of Hayward announced plans to build an industrial park over Russell City, and more than 1,000 people were forced to relocate from their homes.
Sixty years later, Russell City descendants are seeking atonement for their loss. In November of 2021, Hayward City Council issued a formal apology for the displacement of Russell City residents, but this gesture left the grandchildren of the tragedy unsatiated. They’ve demanded reparations so they can begin to build wealth.
In response, the city launched the Russell City Reparative Justice Program. The plan includes proposals to identify descendants using public records, distribute stakeholding grants and provide homebuyer’s assistance and business redevelopment services. A meeting held on Wednesday, August 28 invited community members and those with ties to the victims to share their voices as the city navigates a restorative path forward.
“We want to give you all a voice so we can compare what’s being proposed to what’s already in existence,” said Josephine Ayankoya, City of Hayward’s equity and inclusion officer.
The most hotly contested topic of discussion during Wednesday’s meeting was surrounding how the city should implement homebuyer’s assistance for Russell City descendants. The currently recommended Affordable Housing Ordinance establishes priority preference to people living in Hayward whose families were displaced during the destruction of the area, but many residents expressed they would like to see amendments to this proposal.
During the public comment section, a speaker named Michael opposed the restrictions.
“You should be able to be given homeowner’s assistance where you want to live and not have to come all the way to Hayward,” Michael said. “There’s places much cheaper.”
Marian Johnson, an executive administrative legal assistant, echoed these sentiments. She also mentioned how the current proposal fails to acknowledge Russell City descendants living in other states like Florida and Ohio. In June of 2022, the City of Hayward launched a search for Russell City descendants. Many of those who have been contacted participate in the Reparative Justice Program, but many of those in other communities outside the Bay Area don’t have this opportunity. Attendees at the meeting seemed to agree that all descendants, regardless of residency status, deserve to be compensated.
“This community lost everything,” Johnson said. “We have a voice, we should find our own spaces where we feel safe.”
Toni Wynn added that as long as someone can prove that they are a descendant, that should suffice to receive housing assistance. Concerns also arose surrounding the program’s targeting of first-time home buyers, with common complaints being that the setup is exclusionary.
“You shouldn’t have to be a first-time home buyer to get help,” Michael said.
Over the coming weeks, the city will host additional meetings to hear from Russell City descendants as they inch toward making a final proposal. Despite efforts to bridge community voice with city planning, some residents remain cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the Reparative Justice Program. One speaker with the screen name “iPhone” reiterated the gravity of the situation and its impact.
“It’s difficult to see how there can be any justice from this,” the speaker said.
