Beachfront property seized from black couple in Jim Crow era returned to their descendants

A Los Angeles Beachfront property seized from a black couple by the government during the Jim Crow era has been returned to their descendants, in the first such action by authorities in America.

The property, dubbed Bruce’s Beach, was bought in 1912 by Charles and Willa Bruce and transformed into a resort that other black families could visit without facing racist harassment.

But in 1924, Manhattan Beach officials voted to condemn the land through eminent domain, claiming to need it for a public park, the New York Times reported.

The Bruces launched legal action, but that failed and they lost their business. They were paid just $14,500.

Los Angeles County voted to return the land to their descendants in an effort to “right the wrongs of the past.” 

The great-great grandchildren of the Bruces have been offered the 650-metre squared plot in southern Los Angeles, which they can choose to sell for $20 million.

“It is well documented that this move was a racially motivated attempt to drive out the successful Black business and its patrons,” the LA county Board of Supervisors said last week in a motion to complete the return of the land.

Now, following a unanimous vote, Los Angeles county is transferring the land to the descendants, and will rent it back for $413,000 a year while maintaining a lifeguard training facility there. The family has the option to sell the plot to the county for its estimated value of $20 million.

Anthony Bruce, 39, and a great-great grandson of Charles and Willa said it was a “bittersweet” moment.

“On one hand, it’s the answer to our prayers,” he said. “It’s the relief that we’ve been waiting for. But on the other hand, it’s a reminder of the terrible and tragic events that took place before this happened.”

George Fatheree III, a lawyer representing the Bruces, said in a statement on Tuesday that the return of the land is believed to be the first time in American history that a Black family has had property returned to them by a government, the New York Times reported.

Mr Bruce called for local districts elsewhere to make similar pledges.

“I believe that this should be the beginning,” he said. “Let this be the drop that creates the ripple that creates the wave that creates the tsunami that covers the country.”