The History of Sun Village, California
Sun Village is a town in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles County, California (Originally named Western Mojave Desert, California by the Natives) where Indigenous peoples were forced to live by way of a now unconstitutional practice known as Red Lining. The area once known as Littlerock was renamed Sun Village in 1939 when it was established. A small area south of Sun Village is still Littlerock with a population of approximately 1,200+.
Founded by Indigenous American's who were discriminated against and not allowed to purchase homes in cities like Los Angeles, Palmdale and Lancaster. Surrounding areas considered Sun Village to be the poor part because it was underdeveloped.
The principal founder of Sun Village is Melvin Ray Grubbs. Many news articles describe him as a "Black Lawyer turned Real Estate investor from Chicago who purchased the land from a white family in 1938. However, genealogy records show that he was born in the Oklahomah Cherokee Nation, Township 27 in the year 1900. He later moved to Chicago in the late 1920's where he obtained a Law degree and became a Real Estate Agent and then Real Estate Broker. He then moved to California to establish Sun Village.
Many people were ashamed to say they lived in Sun Village and many people will be surprised to know who lived in Sun Village. The Antelope Valley has been known to be a hot bed for racial tensions and the people of Sun Village have suffered a plethora of human rights violations. Original maps show Sun Village to be 20+ square miles. Online maps have recently change their calculations from 4.7 square miles to 10 square miles. Outside entities continue to try to erase Sun Village off California map.
Due to the lack of pride in ownership and feeling ashamed to be called a Villager (a term that the original people of Sun Village Self-Identify as), the majority of the original Villager's left to live in other cities where there was less racial tension.
Today's population is ~ 12,000+. According to the the U.S. Census, of that amount, only about 10% are indigenous to Sun Village and the other 90% of its residents are from various nationalities, mainly Caucasian and Hispanic. Now, numbers have been changed to reflect that 58% of Sun Village is Indigenous (so-called African American). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Village,_California
ENCROACHMENT
The majority of the residents within the boundaries of Sun Village claim they live in Littlerock, California which according to the 2010 census has a population of 1,200. Another large percentage claim they live in Palmdale another percentage say that they live in Lake Los Angeles. The Red Lining still continues accept that it appears to be in reverse. Now Real Estate agents along with other Los Angeles County entities allow for deeds to be changed once a property is sold in Sun Village to the above named areas.
Sun Village's Post Office was burned down and ever since, the people of Sun Village have been receiving their mail late or not at all because it is routed to the Littlerock Post Office. Many still have deeds that say their property is in Sun Village but only receive mail if it has the name of one of the neighboring cities.
A river once ran through Sun Village but it was dried out by cement being poured into the river and the water was redirected to service other areas. The water being rerouted has caused an increase in water bills sometimes hundreds of dollars more.
There are many other human rights violations that are occurring on the land of Sun Village and its Town Council has received very little aid or assistance from State, County or Local governments. If aid does come, it comes with a compromise. Usually for the County of Los Angeles to assume jurisdiction over the area. The people of Sun Village are fighting from being wiped off the map. Many complaints have been ignored and less are now willing to speak out for fear of losing what little they have.
SUN VILLAGE RENAISSANCE
On August 27th, 2018, the Sun Village Town Council installed new officers. They were sworn in by Charles Bostwick, the liaison to the Los Angeles County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger under the direction of Sun Village's former Mayor, Magdalene Lawrence.. The new officers have pledged to uphold the By-Laws of the Sun Village Town Council and to execute them fairly and justly.
One of the first things voted on was to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day during October that was formally celebrated as Columbus Day. And to further show support and aid to the Indigenous and Aboriginal peoples of the areas was the Sun Village Town Councils adoption of the United Nations-Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the equivalent A-DRIP from the Organization of American States as a guideline to aid and assist Indigenous peoples in the Antelope Valley.
Upon investigating Red Lining in the area, the Sun Village Town Council saw evidence of it still being present. The Red Lining today is to keep an Indigenous population designated as African American from owning property in Sun Village. Those who do become owners are having their deeds filed in the name of other neighboring towns.
Mayor, Ansar El Muhammad has established an E-Residency program for those desiring to be stakeholders and to help bring more support and awareness to Sun Village. The E-Residency program will allow people to invest, vote and establish business in Sun Village from supporters all over the world.
Founded by Indigenous American's who were discriminated against and not allowed to purchase homes in cities like Los Angeles, Palmdale and Lancaster. Surrounding areas considered Sun Village to be the poor part because it was underdeveloped.
The principal founder of Sun Village is Melvin Ray Grubbs. Many news articles describe him as a "Black Lawyer turned Real Estate investor from Chicago who purchased the land from a white family in 1938. However, genealogy records show that he was born in the Oklahomah Cherokee Nation, Township 27 in the year 1900. He later moved to Chicago in the late 1920's where he obtained a Law degree and became a Real Estate Agent and then Real Estate Broker. He then moved to California to establish Sun Village.
Many people were ashamed to say they lived in Sun Village and many people will be surprised to know who lived in Sun Village. The Antelope Valley has been known to be a hot bed for racial tensions and the people of Sun Village have suffered a plethora of human rights violations. Original maps show Sun Village to be 20+ square miles. Online maps have recently change their calculations from 4.7 square miles to 10 square miles. Outside entities continue to try to erase Sun Village off California map.
Due to the lack of pride in ownership and feeling ashamed to be called a Villager (a term that the original people of Sun Village Self-Identify as), the majority of the original Villager's left to live in other cities where there was less racial tension.
Today's population is ~ 12,000+. According to the the U.S. Census, of that amount, only about 10% are indigenous to Sun Village and the other 90% of its residents are from various nationalities, mainly Caucasian and Hispanic. Now, numbers have been changed to reflect that 58% of Sun Village is Indigenous (so-called African American). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Village,_California
ENCROACHMENT
The majority of the residents within the boundaries of Sun Village claim they live in Littlerock, California which according to the 2010 census has a population of 1,200. Another large percentage claim they live in Palmdale another percentage say that they live in Lake Los Angeles. The Red Lining still continues accept that it appears to be in reverse. Now Real Estate agents along with other Los Angeles County entities allow for deeds to be changed once a property is sold in Sun Village to the above named areas.
Sun Village's Post Office was burned down and ever since, the people of Sun Village have been receiving their mail late or not at all because it is routed to the Littlerock Post Office. Many still have deeds that say their property is in Sun Village but only receive mail if it has the name of one of the neighboring cities.
A river once ran through Sun Village but it was dried out by cement being poured into the river and the water was redirected to service other areas. The water being rerouted has caused an increase in water bills sometimes hundreds of dollars more.
There are many other human rights violations that are occurring on the land of Sun Village and its Town Council has received very little aid or assistance from State, County or Local governments. If aid does come, it comes with a compromise. Usually for the County of Los Angeles to assume jurisdiction over the area. The people of Sun Village are fighting from being wiped off the map. Many complaints have been ignored and less are now willing to speak out for fear of losing what little they have.
SUN VILLAGE RENAISSANCE
On August 27th, 2018, the Sun Village Town Council installed new officers. They were sworn in by Charles Bostwick, the liaison to the Los Angeles County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger under the direction of Sun Village's former Mayor, Magdalene Lawrence.. The new officers have pledged to uphold the By-Laws of the Sun Village Town Council and to execute them fairly and justly.
One of the first things voted on was to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day during October that was formally celebrated as Columbus Day. And to further show support and aid to the Indigenous and Aboriginal peoples of the areas was the Sun Village Town Councils adoption of the United Nations-Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the equivalent A-DRIP from the Organization of American States as a guideline to aid and assist Indigenous peoples in the Antelope Valley.
Upon investigating Red Lining in the area, the Sun Village Town Council saw evidence of it still being present. The Red Lining today is to keep an Indigenous population designated as African American from owning property in Sun Village. Those who do become owners are having their deeds filed in the name of other neighboring towns.
Mayor, Ansar El Muhammad has established an E-Residency program for those desiring to be stakeholders and to help bring more support and awareness to Sun Village. The E-Residency program will allow people to invest, vote and establish business in Sun Village from supporters all over the world.