Commemorating the 1st Black Family in Piedmont, 100 Years On

A park featuring a memorial sculpture is set to be established in Piedmont to honor the first Black family who were homeowners in the city. Celebrated artist and landscape architect from Oakland, Walter Hood, is tasked with realizing this vision.

Hood remarked on the significance of remembering individuals and how such memories impact our future, stating, "We're focused on how people remember and integrate that into their future."

The project recently advanced with a new timeline announcement from the city, alongside a target date for completion.

"Our goal is to finalize the design in the coming year and initiate installation," explained Rosanna Bayon-Moore, the City Administrator of Piedmont. "We have currently achieved a 50% completion of the concept."

The origin of this initiative dates back to 2020, during the COVID pandemic, when Meghan Bennett, a resident, discovered a troubling chapter in the city's history. She created a website to shed light on this unspoken past.

In the winter of 1924, Sidney and Irene Dearing became the first Black homeowners in Piedmont, thanks to Irene's mother's purchase on Wildwood and Fairview Avenues. At that time, redlining policies were systematically used to segregate neighborhoods.

Historical records reveal that both the city council and locals were opposed to the Dearings, igniting a wave of hostility.

The Dearing residence was repeatedly targeted, culminating in the discovery of a dynamite-filled bomb in the garden. By May of that year, a crowd of 500 converged on their home in protest.

Faced with escalating threats, the Dearings decided to sell their property back to the city for safety.

Gary Theut, a current resident of the Dearing House for nearly two decades, was unaware of its history when purchasing it. He now looks forward to the memorial in the redwood grove nearby.

"That part of our history might be difficult to face, but honoring those who endured it is vital," Theut stated. "I'm relieved that this story is now known within our community."

In 2022, Piedmont's City Council endorsed the memorial as a means to address past injustices.

"Our community aims to change by acknowledging and addressing challenging historical issues," Bayon-Moore commented. "Moving forward requires confronting these past narratives."

Walter Hood was appointed to guide this initiative. His renowned work spans the globe, including contributions to the De Young Museum gardens and other landmarks.

Hood expressed a personal connection to the project, noting, "As a Black man, it's critical we narrate our own histories."

Hood's concept features two 'portals' symbolic of the Dearing family's dashed hopes. Visitors can peer through a mirror inside these structures.

Additionally, an oversized mailbox bearing the Dearing name will be mounted high on a flagpole, symbolizing ongoing communication.

Hood recently completed a garden at South Carolina's International African American Museum, drawing parallels between stories across different scales.

"Charleston, a city steeped in history, nearly lost a pivotal piece of its foundation, much like Piedmont's story. It's easy for such narratives to be overshadowed," Hood observed.