Descendants Sue Piedmont Over Racist Harassment of Family in 1924
Over a century ago, the Dearing family faced relentless racist harassment after becoming the first Black homeowners in Piedmont, California. Now, their great-granddaughter is seeking justice through a lawsuit alleging the city conspired to drive them out.
In 1924, Sidney Dearing, a successful Oakland businessman and owner of the popular Creole Cafe and his wife Irene, made the bold decision to move to the predominantly white city of Piedmont, located just across the Oakland border . Their arrival sparked immediate backlash from residents, escalating into months of verbal abuse and physical threats.
The Creole Cafe and a Rising Jazz Scene
Sidney Dearing was a prominent figure in Oakland’s vibrant jazz scene, owning and operating the Creole Cafe, founded in 1921 on 7th Street in West Oakland . The cafe was a popular destination for New Orleans-style jazz, big-band music, and Southern cuisine . However, the business was forced to close during Prohibition after losing its liquor license .
A Mob Descends on Wildwood Avenue
In January 1924, Dearing purchased a two-story house at 67 Wildwood Avenue in Piedmont for $10,000 (equivalent to approximately $187,864 today) . The property was initially purchased by his mother-in-law, Julia Davis, who then transferred ownership to the couple . This made them the first Black homeowners in Piedmont .
The response was swift and hostile. By May 1924, a mob of approximately 500 people gathered outside the Dearing home, demanding they leave town . Despite the threats, the Dearing family initially refused to be intimidated. However, the city of Piedmont subsequently filed a lawsuit, claiming the property was needed for a future road construction project . The Dearing family was ultimately forced to leave, and the planned road was never built .
A Lawsuit Filed in 2026
In February 2026, Jordana Ackerman, Dearing’s great-granddaughter, filed a lawsuit against the city of Piedmont, seeking financial compensation and a formal apology . The suit, filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Alameda County, alleges that the city conspired to run the Dearing family out of town through discriminatory practices .
“This lawsuit seeks to right some of the many wrongs and compensate for the hopes and dreams, generational wealth, and opportunities that the City denied my family through lies and violence rooted in racial discrimination,” Ackerman stated in a press release .
The lawsuit further claims that the city’s actions violated the equal protection clause of the California Constitution, alleging that the Dearing family was targeted solely as of their race .
City Response and Ongoing Concerns
Leah Aden, a senior attorney with the NAACP, emphasized the historical significance of the case, noting that such stories have often been hidden from public view .
Piedmont city spokesperson Echa Schneider acknowledged the injustices suffered by the Dearing family, stating, “What Sidney and Irene Dearing experienced 100 years ago was abhorrent, and is a shameful chapter in the community’s history,” and that it does not reflect the values of the community today.