White celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian, James Woods and Sarah Michelle Gellar have lashed out against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass because of the Palisades fire. However, the Black people who were affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena haven’t garnered nearly as much media attention.
Suggested Reading
Satellite images of burning buildings in Altadena published by Axios showed that a significant portion of the community was in flames or burned to ash. The New York Times has reported that at least 16 people have been killed in the Eaton fire—making it one of the deadliest fires in California’s history.
Almost 21 percent of the folks that live there affected directly by the Eaton fire are Black—which is high considering that Black people make up 8 percent of the overall population of Los Angeles County.Currently, a quarter of Black residents in Altadena are 65 and up.
However, the devastation suffered by middle-class areas, communities of color and the elderly have been overshadowed in the news. Political commentator Keith Boykin explained that the media has been “driven by race, class, power and privilege” in a clip that has circulated widely on Instagram.
“It’s a tale of two fires: the Palisades Fire on the west side of L.A. county with the wealthy, overwhelmingly white population and the Eaton Fire on the east side of L.A. county with a diverse, multiracial population and a historic Black community...only one is creating a national political debate and you can guess which one it is,” Boykin stated.
Boykin explained that conservatives used the opportunity to once again rail against diversity, equity and inclusion. The relentlessly attacked a Black mayor and criticize Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley, who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
There were reports about the L.A. fire department undergoing $17 million in budget cuts. However, Crowley stated in an interview with CBS News that it wouldn’t have mattered.
“The Palisades Fire, it is absolutely one of the most horrific natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles. Even with an additional 100 engines, I tell you, we would not catch that fire.”
Boykin reiterated this fact, and cited a CNN piece in which a dozen experts stated that “fully functioning hydrants would not have been enough to battle fires of the magnitude of those that raged this week, particularly when air resources, such as helicopters and fixed-winged aircrafts were grounded due to the wind.”
Boykin’s bottom line was the fires weren’t a result of “budget cuts, fire hydrants, lack of water, protecting an endangered fish, a traveling mayor, DEI, woke policies or any other right-wing explanations.
Instead, he emphasized the importance of urban planning, fossil fuels, budget realities and climate change.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.