A while back, The New Yorker invited the talented Issa Rae—screenwriter, producer and actor—to present her vision for a fantasy television series, and that was her answer.
Her hilarious pitch left many of us in stitches.
We couldn’t help but hope that this show, along with its dream cast, would come to life and achieve the same level of success as her previous hits.
The project would certainly feature an exciting storyline. But more importantly, it would highlight the real-life energy and success of the Black community.
Throughout history, predominantly Black neighborhoods have been instrumental in nurturing our culture, promoting economic strength and building social unity. From the artistic explosion of the Harlem Renaissance to the vibrant communities we see today, these areas have been centers of creativity, strength and progress, often located in some of the most dynamic parts of America.
If you’re considering a move or are simply curious about some of the wealthiest majority-Black neighborhoods across the United States today, here are a few from the West Coast. They are on Issa’s list and might be worth checking out for you, too.
Ladera Heights
Median Income: $157,824
College Education: 56%
Homeownership: 72%
Median Home Price: $1.4 million
Ladera Heights is a thriving neighborhood in Los Angeles county, ranked among the top three richest Black communities in the United States. 64% of the population is Black.
The area was established in 1946 as a farm and ranch based on a Spanish land grant, and later became a cooperative housing project before growing into a successful and independent community. The first people who lived there were Native Americans from the Ohlone tribes, specifically the Wemelento and Akahawi groups.
During the early 1960s, Ladera Heights saw a notable influx of wealthy African American families. This migration was largely fueled by the civil rights movement, which inspired them to make their homes in this community, particularly as they encountered barriers when trying to buy properties in other upscale neighborhoods.They were attracted to Ladera Heights not only for the chance to live there but also for its stunning landscape, which includes rolling hills that provide breathtaking views of Los Angeles.
Some say that the recent attention on the thriving community comes from a series of movies and TV shows, especially Rae’s Insecure.
“In other shows, it was always like, ‘Oh, we’re going to South L.A., we’re going to the hood’ — or Law & Order would do a ‘Somebody got murdered on that street!,’ Rae told The Hollywood Reporter. “And it’s like, nobody got murdered there, what are you talking about?” “I know the L.A. that I see, and I was just tired of seeing it not reflected.”
Windsor Hills
Median Income: $113,000
College Education: 60%
Homeownership: 70%
Median Home Price: $1.5 million
Formally known as View Park-Windsor Hills, this neighborhood has a population of just under 11,000 people and is known as one of the largest, wealthiest, and most educated Black communities in the Western United States. Recently, white and Asian professionals have started moving in, but approximately 73% of its residents are Black.
Windsor Village is situated on land that used to be part of the Rancho Las Cienegas. This camp was fairly small, around 4,500 acres, and was granted to Juan Abila in 1871. It stretched from what is now Wilshire Boulevard down to Baldwin Hills. At that time, the area was mostly a swamp, and it needed to be drained and leveled before it could be developed into valuable residential land, which happened after the early 1900s.
After World War II, the Wilshire District experienced significant social and demographic changes. In 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that restrictive covenants were unconstitutional. This, along with many African American residents moving to the city for jobs in wartime industries, led to more diverse neighborhoods that were once only for white residents. Areas like Pico Heights and West Adams saw many African American families moving in as wealthier white residents relocated to other affluent neighborhoods.
Baldwin Hills
Median Income: $157,000
College Education: 51%
Homeownership: 40.2%
Median Home Price: $1 million
If you watched BET from 2007 to 2009, you might remember the show Baldwin Hills. It showed the lives of young Black teens and adults living in the area known as “Black Beverly Hills.” This neighborhood is in Los Angeles County and has about 30,000 residents. It is recognized as the second most affluent Black community in the U.S., which makes sense, as many famous people have lived there, including Ray Charles, Allyson Felix, John Singleton, Tina Turner, and Ice Cube.
The hilly area in South Los Angeles, where the Baldwin Hills neighborhoods are now located, used to be part of Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera, which was later owned by an aggressive, scheming 19th-century figure named Elias “Lucky” Baldwin.
In the early 1900s, these empty hills were mostly known for the oil rigs that dotted the landscape and the fights between different groups trying to take control of the oil. The area also had a bad reputation for being a dumping ground for a famous murder, having peat fires, and being a meeting spot for drug-related activities, showing that it had a wild past.
Nonetheless, this did not discourage real estate developers. During the boom of the 1920s, they turned their attention to the hills, which provided stunning vistas and an ideal location, nestled between the heart of Los Angeles, Santa Monica and the South Bay.
In the 1950s, the predominantly white neighborhoods of Baldwin Hills gradually transformed into a mostly Black community. This shift was also largely influenced by the Supreme Court’s 1948 ruling that eliminated racially restrictive housing undertakings. This ruling allowed Black residents to purchase homes in areas that had previously been segregated.
