This Afro-American family, robbed of their magnificent beach property almost 100 years ago get their land back.
The story behind the beach property
In 1924, a black family was robbed of their beach property by officials from the Souther Calfornia Community. Back in 1912, the Bruces established the first resort on the west coast for Black people. The beach property has a dance hall, cafe, dressing tents, and a lodge. The property is located in what is now one of South California’s trademark beaches. However, racism and hostility were at the plate for the Bruces and their customers. But, the fire set on the plot was truly devastating. Bruce’s Beach now has a net worth of over $75 million.
“The Bruce family was stripped of their property in 1924 because of hatred and racism. It’s past time to right that wrong. Today, by returning the property CA took another step toward addressing systemic racism and set a path forward for other states & our nation to do the same,” tweeted Cali Governor Gavin Newsom.
Mistakes corrected-100 years later
Thursday was a historic moment as Governor Newsom corrected a nearly a century-old mistake. Willa and Charles Bruce’s descendants, including a great-great-grandson from 5 generations after went to the crime scene to get their rights once again. “There are other families waiting for this very day, to have their land returned to them,” said Patricia Bruce. Patricia is Willa and Charles Bruce’s cousin.
“The journey here was far from easy,” said Kavon Ward, an African-American local that head of the land’s past. After all, this moment is a watershed in the restoration and repartitions of lands once stolen from African Americans.
