Portions of the popular Manhattan Beach in Southern California has taken it's first steps in being returned to decedents of it's original Black owners, this is according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Portions of Bruce's Beach, named after Willa and Charles Bruce who owned the land, was seized by the city back in the early 1900s. Some say the seizure was illegal and was the city way of succumbing to the uproar from the white residents who didn't want a Black family owning a Beach Resort.
However, the giving back of the land is not as easy as it seems, it has to go through the State Legislature to lift restrictions that currently prohibit the selling of the land.
This history behind the public seizure of the land is troubling. Back in 1912 Willa and Charles bought the land for just over $1,200. During that time, Black folks have very few option to relax and enjoy the beach at a resort, so with a few additions to the land, the Bruces created Bruce's Beach Resort targeting Black customers.
The Bruces purchases, along with a few other Black families, who purchased land right next to them, they created a Black ocean-view beach resort with all the bells and whistles; bath house, café, dance hall, suites and more.
The very popular resort was the victim of various racist attacks from white neighbors, including the KKK. Then in 1929, in a racially motivated seizure, the city seized the land through eminent domain, saying the land was needed to build a park. No such park was built until 1960 when the city realized if they didn't build a park, legal action could be taken.
The land that The Bruces bought currently houses the county's lifeguard training facility.
Lets hope the family of The Bruces get their land back that was unjustly stolen from them.
-Natomas Slimm
Follow on Instagram/Facebook/SnapChat/Twitter/YouTube/SoundCloud: @NatomasSlimm
Listen to Natomas Slimm from Midnight to 6am on Sacramento's # 1 For Throwback, V101.1!