Fighting for Reparations in Palm Springs; Uncovering Women Miners’ Forgotten Legacy

Listen to this and more in-depth storytelling by subscribing to The California Report Magazine podcast. You might think of Palm Springs as a wealthy city filled with luxury hotels and swimming pools. But it’s also a place shaped by brutal racism. People who lived in Section 14, once a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood, were pushed off their land. Their homes were bulldozed and burned down. The California Report’s Madi Bolanos talked to some of the former residents who are now fighting for reparations. We’re continuing our Hidden Gems series with a visit to Mineral King. It’s located in the southern part of Sequoia National Park. Mineral King’s remote location means it gets fewer visitors than other parts of the park. But the campers and backpackers that make the trek are rewarded with a spectacular mountain range with rushing waterfalls. There are only a handful of buildings here, including some historic wooden cabins that belong to a few families who’ve been here long before this was a national park. One of those cabins belongs to Laile Di Silvestro’s family.  Her connection to Mineral King goes back to the 1870s. Today, she’s an archeologist, and she’s looking for the stories she...