Historical Roots of Housing Discrimination
Bakersfield residents gathered Thursday evening for a community workshop led by Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability, where historian Donato Cruz discussed the history and ongoing challenges of housing inequality in the city. Cruz outlined the lasting effects of redlining, segregation, and urban renewal, emphasizing that these past injustices continue to shape Bakersfield’s neighborhoods and called on locals to advocate for fairer housing policies.
Cruz explained that redlining involved various discriminatory practices, such as “racial steering,” where real estate agents guided clients to specific neighborhoods based on race. These practices entrenched racial segregation, affecting minority communities, and continue to impact neighborhoods today.
He highlighted the long-standing neglect of Bakersfield neighborhoods like Mayflower and Sunset, noting that “poor housing conditions…are rooted in historical neglect.” He referenced a 1950 NAACP report showing that residents in these areas lacked access to sewers or septic systems, relying on pit toilets instead. Cruz showed photos of hand-built homes by Black residents who worked hard to establish a foothold in the city despite significant barriers, with limited resources often resulting in substandard housing conditions that still affect these communities.
Discussing 1930s exclusionary practices, Cruz cited a report by Governor C.C. Young that surveyed California real estate boards on segregation. Bakersfield, among 24 counties, admitted to segregating Mexicans and used racially restrictive covenants to enforce separation.
These covenants, present in over 200 Kern County neighborhood contracts, stated that properties could not be occupied by non-white individuals, except as domestic workers. Cruz added that discriminatory language appeared in Bakersfield deeds as early as 1909 and was enforced by real estate associations, whose Code of Ethics once stipulated that a realtor “shall never…introduce a neighborhood, a character of property, or occupancy, member of any race or nationality.”
Current Housing Justice Efforts
Following Cruz’s presentation on Bakersfield’s housing past, Emma De La Rosa, from the Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability, gave a presentation focused on current housing justice in Kern County and Bakersfield, highlighting critical housing issues, displacement risks, and systemic inequities in the region.
Leadership Counsel, a local nonprofit, actively gathers community input on housing and environmental justice by conducting door-to-door conversations and hosting community meetings.
De La Rosa discussed the Housing Element, a legal mandate requiring local jurisdictions to assess housing needs and plan to improve accessibility. According to De La Rosa, community involvement is essential to creating effective housing policies. Central and Southeast Bakersfield face heightened displacement risks, with low-income residents vulnerable to eviction due to rising rents and minimal tenant protections. Nearly 10,500 households in the area are overcrowded, with most being renters.
“The housing market has a lot of impacts on low-income communities when we’re seeing housing markets increase,” De La Rosa warned.
The presentation also underscored long standing geographical divides within Bakersfield, with the 99 Freeway acting as a demarcation line for areas more prone to displacement and social inequities. De La Rosa pointed out that “not a lot has changed,” with maps showing persistent segregation patterns that impact displacement risks in East Bakersfield, a finding supported by the Housing Element’s data.
Through community feedback and analysis, De La Rosa addressed the causes and impacts of displacement risk and poor housing conditions in these areas.
In an interactive discussion, De La Rosa asked attendees why they thought the displacement risk was highest in certain parts of the city. Attendees suggested that racial demographics and disinvestment in communities of color were significant factors. “There’s disinvestment in communities of color,” one participant noted, reflecting the impact of historical racial covenants and discriminatory policies that restricted housing investment in specific areas.
Habitability issues are another serious concern, especially since 50% of the housing stock is over 30 years old, meaning structural and health issues are prevalent. De La Rosa highlighted cases of extreme disrepair, describing situations of roofs that are damaged, mold infestations and lack of ACs or heating.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
The AFFH initiative was also reviewed, aiming to combat segregation and promote inclusivity by investing in essential resources like parks, schools, and affordable daycare. De La Rosa highlighted local advocacy efforts to improve access to these resources and encourage a more equitable distribution of public services.
Community Voices and Local Action
Longtime community member Wendell Wesley Jr. took the floor, underscoring the need for proactive, community-driven solutions. He voiced frustration over-reliance on government action, calling instead for unity and local efforts, such as forming a community land trust to buy and develop land for affordable housing. JR said,
“Many hands make light work,” advocating for collaboration to accelerate progress on housing issues.
Emprezz Nontzikelelo, a long-standing community advocate, also shared her perspective on the power of collective action and community engagement. Nontzikelelo emphasized the importance of unified voices in bringing meaningful change, saying, “There’s power in numbers. One individual cannot be a lone voice.”
She stressed that community engagement—attending city council meetings, participating in gatherings, and advocating for community-led improvements—is essential for tackling issues like the housing crisis and inadequate infrastructure.
“It takes the community to hold the powers that be accountable,” she said, underlining the necessity of a grassroots approach.
Nontzikelelo highlighted the historical neglect of Bakersfield’s southeast neighborhoods, areas she has called home her entire life. Despite funds designated for revitalizing these communities, she shared her frustration that resources are often redirected to better-off neighborhoods.
“They used our numbers to get the money here, but the legacy has been to divert those monies,” she said. Nontzikelelo painted a vivid picture of her neighborhood, describing litter-strewn streets and illegal dumping, a result, she explained, of the area being treated as a “dumping ground.”
Throughout her life, Nontzikelelo has tirelessly fought for improvements in these neglected neighborhoods. While she has felt worn down at times, she repeatedly returns to her mission, driven by her desire to create a brighter future for her family and community. She concluded with an impassioned call to action, urging all community members to join together and uplift their neighborhoods.
“Please, let’s all pull together and lift this community up,” she implored, her words capturing the urgency and dedication that has fueled her decades-long advocacy.