By Cameron Davis:
Southern California has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. People travel from all over to bask in the California sun and lay on our golden sandy beaches. Unfortunately, during segregation, African-American families could not enjoy a day at the beach.
In 1912, Willa and Charles Bruce purchased land in Manhattan Beach for $1,225. They constructed the land into a beachside resort with a restaurant and a dance hall that welcomed African Americans from all over the greater Los Angeles area.
Bruce’s Beach Lodge opened and became a popular beach resort specifically for African Americans because of racial segregation in the Jim Crow era. This resort was an opportunity for Black beachgoers to relax and enjoy the beauty of Southern California's waters.
Because of Bruce’s Lodge’s spike in popularity, the number of Black families buying land near Bruce’s Beach surged, and several vacation homes were built. However, this did not come without repercussions. The crowds of Black people that flocked to Bruce’s Beach and the surrounding areas caused the predominantly white community to react with animosity. Racist white residents and real estate agents complained to local government officials to put an end to Black businesses in their community.
In 1924, under eminent domain, the Manhattan Beach city council seized the property with plans to redevelop it as a public park. However, the true motivation behind the construction plan was fueled by racism because the white residents wanted to stop Black businesses from setting up shop in their neighborhood. The council also enacted new laws that prohibited resort-style businesses in the area, which prevented the Bruces and other Black families from purchasing another beachfront property for a resort.
Three years later, in 1927, the Bruce family moved out of Manhattan Beach, leaving behind their beach resort to be demolished. The plot of land remained empty for decades, and a park was finally built 30 years later, but only on the land behind the resort that neither Willa nor Charles owned. No park was ever built on their former property. This was proof that the property seizure was solely based on racism and the white community simply wanted them to leave.
After pressure from local activists and the Bruce's descendants, in 1995, the city of Manhattan Beach, the State of California, and the County of Los Angeles all worked together to obtain the land that Willa and Charles Bruce originally owned. They gave the land rightfully back to the married couple’s descendants in an attempt to rebuild the American Dream that was stolen from them.
You can visit Bruce's Beach at 2600 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266