Sun Village, CA – Antelope Valley has seen many changes over the decades, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Back in the old days, as the pioneers would say, Black people were not allowed to live or buy property in Palmdale or Lancaster. Black migrants were subject to the most underdeveloped and least fertile land of the Antelope Valley, settling in a place they called Sun Village in the late 1940s.
The small town of about 1,000 acres is located within the confines of Avenue Q from the north, Avenue T from the south, 103rd Street from the east and 82nd Street from the west. It’s easy to pass the Village up when on your way to Littlerock, which is a close neighbor. But the town is filled with years of history.
James Brooks, president of the Sun Village town council, says the small community has come a very long way.
“When we got here, it wasn’t like a Mecca. There were no streets, no streetlights, no water, and no gas. The people had to fight for it,” Brooks said. “When people would go down to the valley or L.A. for the day, if it got too dark, they had to turn around because they couldn’t find their way home.”
Now Sun Village has several paved roads, streetlights, and town establishments. Jackie Robinson Park, one of the town’s must see landmarks, holds a history all its own. The Sun Village Women’s Club gave Jackie Robinson Park, which is 14 acres and fully equipped with a community center, gymnasium, apparatus and baseball diamond, to the county. In 1965, Jackie Robinson himself dedicated the property along side former mayor Larry Chimbole, former county Supervisor Warren Dorn, former Lancaster Honorary Mayor Neta Deeter Rephun, and Norman Johnson, former L.A. County director of parks and recreation.
Eugene Washington a 25-year resident of Sun Village was the town council’s first president in 1992. He says establishing the town was no easy task. Establishing boundaries has been one of the main battles for Sun Village. Washington and other Village residents have been battling an aggressive push from Littlerock’s officials to absorb the land. He says back in the day, the people of Littlerock wanted nothing to do with Sun Village
“There were virtually no lights in the beginning,” Washington said. “Now Black folks fought to get street lights, paved roads and then they want to come in and take it over.”
He says there is so much more the town needs, but while battles continue to tie up the energies of the town council. Vision keeps the town alive, however.
“We have vision,” Brooks said proudly. “We have a lot of history here. It’s the people, it’s such a beautiful place to come because there’s friendly people. Yes we’re country, but it’s refreshing because there is no pretense.”
Brooks added that the town council wants to build up Sun Village, but keep its small town feel with “ma and pa” shops, specialty stores and music and food spots. He says obstacles will persist as long as Sun Village continues to fight.
A history from the mouths of Sun Village pioneers will be presented at the next town hall meeting on Monday, Feb. 22 starting at 7p.m. at the William Shaw Building, located at Avenue Q-10 and 97th Street East. The public is welcome.