Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Officials Lead Effort To Return Bruce's Beach To The Black Family It Was Taken From 100 Years Ago
Manhattan Beach Pier. Chava Sanchez/LAist
()
Both state and L.A. County officials are taking another step toward give two parcels of land in the Manhattan Beach area back to the African American family it was taken from nearly a hundred years ago, under the guise of eminent domain.
Supervisor Janice Hahn is leading the effort to right what she calls a historical wrong."As one of the descendants said, they used the law to commit a crime, " she said.
WHAT HAPPENED
Manhattan Beach used eminent domain laws to seize the Bruce family's land, where the family had a thriving beach resort. As Hahn explains, the land seizure was the final shove, after years of harassment by the Klu Klux Klan failed to push the Black community out of the area.
Support for LAist comes from
"They slashed people's tires, the KKK even attempted to set the Bruce Lodge on fire and succeeded in burning down a local Black family's home near this property," Hahn said.
They were then barred from purchasing new land.
The excuse Manhattan Beach gave for removing the Bruce family's business, and the surrounding Black community, was the need for a public park. But the land sat empty for decades before a park was built.
Today, in addition to that small park, the L.A. County Fire Department has its lifeguard training headquarters on the land.
Chief Duane Yellowfeather Shepard is a descendent and representative of the Bruce Family. He says when the land and business was taken away, the family was robbed of the chance to build generational wealth and is now demanding:
"Restitution for the loss of enterprise and punitive damages for the collusion of the institutional racism of this city that railroaded out family out of here."
On Monday, California Sen. Steven Bradford will introduce a piece of legislation that would make it possible to give back the land. Bradford has also been appointed to the newly formed state reparations task force.
Support for LAist comes from
Bradford says that his bill, SB 796, and legislation like AB3121, "will explore the possibilities of reparations and set a power precedence for compensation owed to African Americans in this country."
WHAT NEXT
A change in ownership of the two land parcels will require a two-third majority passing of two bills and support from the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to approve it.
If that happens, the Bruce Family is considering leasing the land back to the County.
READ MORE:
Manhattan Beach Can't Figure Out How To Apologize For Its Racist Past
- Bruce’s Beach (This Tik Tok explains the history pretty well)
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The landslide is not connected to the greater Portuguese Bend landslide, city officials said. -
Nom. Nom. Nom. The event destroyed the internet when it was first announced — and sold out in minutes. -
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Best of LAist