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For many African Americans, owning land and a home has been a long-held aspiration — a goal that has been fought for throughout history and remains a challenge for many today. In 1924, a beach resort in Los Angeles offered Black individuals the recreational opportunities that segregation denied them, a space created for African Americans to enjoy freely. This narrative revolves around one woman’s struggle and the theft of her dream due to racism and deceit.
A quick online search reveals that today’s Manhattan Beach is situated in Los Angeles County and is a beloved locale for families and outdoor lovers. However, it omits the troubling history of how Manhattan Beach came to be.
In 1912, Willa Bruce purchased two acres of land for $1,225. An enterprising woman, Willa established a lodge, café, and dining hall for fellow African Americans who visited the area. Her husband, Charles, worked as a dining-car chef on trains between Utah and California. Previously, Willa had faced rejections when attempting to buy land. “Wherever we have tried to buy land for a beach resort, we have been refused,” she expressed in a 1912 Los Angeles Times interview. This time, however, she was resolute in making her dream a reality.
Over time, Black families built cottages along the shore, transforming the area into a modern-day version of Martha’s Vineyard — a place created by and for African Americans. Bruce’s Beach became a cherished weekend retreat until 1924, when the government seized the land from Willa Bruce using eminent domain, claiming a public park would be established there.
The local community faced threats from white residents who opposed the success of this Black neighborhood. Accounts reveal various forms of intimidation, including tactics employed by the KKK, such as burning mattresses on porches and attacking homes in the vicinity. As noted by writer Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times, “Fake ‘10 minutes only’ parking signs were posted to deter Black visitors.”
In a move to rectify past injustices, California recently passed legislation to return Bruce’s Beach — now valued at approximately $75 million — to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce. Historically, the government had sided with the white residents who resented the Bruces for unjust reasons, supporting racist ideologies that ultimately dismantled a vibrant community for Black individuals.
It has taken over a century for the government to acknowledge its mistakes, but for the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce, this recognition is a long-awaited victory. “How would you feel if your family owned the Waldorf and they took it away from you?” queried descendant Bernard Bruce in a 2007 interview with the Los Angeles Times. Historian Duane Shepard, a relative of the Bruces, expressed his joy, stating, “I’m elated, walking on water right now. This is one of the greatest things in American history right now.”
Although it took far too long for California to confront the wrongs inflicted on this family, it prompts the question: how many other Black families are still owed their rightful land? My own grandparents instilled in me the importance of homeownership and education, believing those were two invaluable assets. Yet for the Bruce family, that security was stripped away. It is about time this monumental injustice was addressed, even if Willa and Charles are not here to witness it.
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Summary:
The article discusses the historical significance of Bruce’s Beach, a resort established by Willa Bruce for African Americans, which was unjustly taken by the government in 1924. California has recently passed legislation to return the land to the Bruces’ descendants, marking a pivotal moment in addressing historical injustices faced by Black families. The piece reflects on the broader implications of land ownership within the African American community and the importance of acknowledging and rectifying past wrongs.