The Story of Russell City, the Town that Lost the Blues

Russell City used to be a thriving community in the 1940s and 50s. But in the 1960s Alameda County and the city of Hayward used eminent domain to seize the land, evict the residents and build an industrial park. We hear stories from former Russell City residents about what it used to be like there.

Additional Reading:

Remembering Russell City: A Thriving East Bay Town Razed by Racist Government

Decades After 'Cultural Genocide,' Residents of a Bulldozed Community Get Apology from Hayward

Join us at KQED HQ for a live event featuring music and storytelling from Russell City!


Reported by Spencer Whitney and Katrina Schwartz. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Amanda Font and Brendan Willard. Our Social Video Intern is Darren Tu. Additional support from Kyana Moghadam, Jen Chien, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Jenny Pritchett and Holly Kernan.