Ownership of Bruce's Beach Returned To Black Family In Southern California

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA - JULY 20: A member of the Bruce family looks at a plaque commemorating the history of Bruces Beach after a ceremony to return ownership of Bruce's Beach to the descendants of a Black family who had the land stripped from them nearly a century ago on July 20, 2022 in Manhattan Beach, California. In 1912 and 1920, Willa Bruce, who was Black, purchased two lots of land along this strand and soon, Charles and Willa Bruce turned the property into a seaside resort welcoming Black beachgoers from across the region. Six other Black families also purchased lots and built homes. The site became colloquially named Bruces Beach. Increasing popularity of the resort alarmed local Whites who reacted with fear and racism. Nearby white real estate agents submitted a petition to the Manhattan Beach City Council in 1924 which prompted the city to seize Bruces Beach through eminent domain and turn it into a park. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)