I don't know all the specifics of the situation, but I don't know if the Bruce's were offered fair market compensation. It sounds as if they were not. This would be only one area where the eminent domain clause goes array. The other would be that, at the time, Im sure there were other alternative sights that could have provided the sought after public space.
REMINDER: THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. has no obligation to monitor the Forums. However, THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. reserves the right to review any materials submitted to or posted on the Forums, and remove, delete, redact or otherwise modify such materials, in its sole discretion and for any reason whatsoever, at any time and from time to time, without notice or further obligation to you. THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. has no obligation to display or post any materials provided by you. THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. reserves the right to disclose, at any time and from time to time, any information or materials that we deem necessary or appropriate to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, contract obligation, legal or dispute process or government request. Click on the following hyperlinks to further read the applicable Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
CA Beach to be Returned to family it was Stolen from
- Thread starter r32
- Start date
I don't know all the specifics of the situation, but I don't know if the Bruce's were offered fair market compensation. It sounds as if they were not. This would be only one area where the eminent domain clause goes array. The other would be that, at the time, Im sure there were other alternative sights that could have provided the sought after public space.
K, this is from the tourist info site californiabeaches.com
Interesting that they say it was "condemned and closed by the city", but didn't mention seizure of property
"Those who wished to uphold the racial segregation practices that formerly kept the blacks away from the beach severely harassed the Bruces, resort visitors, and black homeowners.
Tensions grew so high in the 1920’s that the resort and surrounding homes were eventually condemned and closed by the city. The NAACP organized a “swim-in” in 1927, and after being arrested for swimming in the waters of Manhattan Beach, the members fought the charges. Their case was won, resulting in the overturn of the city’s condemnation, and the decree that the beach would again be open to the public, without restrictions. 80 years later, in 2007, the park was renamed to reflect its inspiring origins, and the family who did so much to bring change and equality to the city.
Interesting that they say it was "condemned and closed by the city", but didn't mention seizure of property
"Those who wished to uphold the racial segregation practices that formerly kept the blacks away from the beach severely harassed the Bruces, resort visitors, and black homeowners.
Tensions grew so high in the 1920’s that the resort and surrounding homes were eventually condemned and closed by the city. The NAACP organized a “swim-in” in 1927, and after being arrested for swimming in the waters of Manhattan Beach, the members fought the charges. Their case was won, resulting in the overturn of the city’s condemnation, and the decree that the beach would again be open to the public, without restrictions. 80 years later, in 2007, the park was renamed to reflect its inspiring origins, and the family who did so much to bring change and equality to the city.
Last edited:
From an LA times article last year. Pretty messed up....
"When harassment failed to drive the Black beach-going community out of town, city officials condemned the neighborhood in 1924 and seized more than two dozen properties through eminent domain. The reason, they said, was an urgent need for a public park.
The Bruces and three other Black families sued, citing racial prejudice, according to Robert Brigham, a longtime resident and historian who, in 1956, sought to tell the real story of Bruce’s Beach in his master’s thesis at Fresno State College. The Bruces sought $120,000 in compensation — $70,000 for their two lots and $50,000 in damages. Another couple asked for $36,000.
After years of litigation, the Bruces received $14,500. The other families, Black and white, received between $1,200 and $4,200 per lot.
Most found other property in Manhattan Beach, but the city made it impossible for the Bruces to move their seaside business anywhere else in town. So they packed up and went inland, where they served as chefs for other business owners for the remainder of their lives."
"Bruce’s Beach was razed and remained vacant for decades.
In the 1950s, city officials began to worry that family members might sue to regain their land unless it was used for the purpose for which it had been originally taken. City Park was born, and later renamed Beachfront, then Bayview Terrace Park."
"When harassment failed to drive the Black beach-going community out of town, city officials condemned the neighborhood in 1924 and seized more than two dozen properties through eminent domain. The reason, they said, was an urgent need for a public park.
The Bruces and three other Black families sued, citing racial prejudice, according to Robert Brigham, a longtime resident and historian who, in 1956, sought to tell the real story of Bruce’s Beach in his master’s thesis at Fresno State College. The Bruces sought $120,000 in compensation — $70,000 for their two lots and $50,000 in damages. Another couple asked for $36,000.
After years of litigation, the Bruces received $14,500. The other families, Black and white, received between $1,200 and $4,200 per lot.
Most found other property in Manhattan Beach, but the city made it impossible for the Bruces to move their seaside business anywhere else in town. So they packed up and went inland, where they served as chefs for other business owners for the remainder of their lives."
"Bruce’s Beach was razed and remained vacant for decades.
In the 1950s, city officials began to worry that family members might sue to regain their land unless it was used for the purpose for which it had been originally taken. City Park was born, and later renamed Beachfront, then Bayview Terrace Park."
There's a movement called LANDBACK to return lands to the original indigenous communities. The no brainer is to return control of public lands through transfer or requiring tribal consent rather than consultation for government activities. They are pursuing strategic purchasing of private land through donations, grants, and trusts (think Nature Conservancy).
Check it out!
https://ndncollective.org/ndn-collective-landback-campaign-launching-on-indigenous-peoples-day-2020/
Has anyone ever reflected on why surfing in CA is so overwhelming white? Hopefully this will help shed light on the reason why. It's not because black people don't like the beach or swimming blah blah blah.
Not REALLY. Unless I missed something this isn’t some court case being won. This is the result of an elected official doing the right thing or what many of you here would refer to as “white knighting”.
Indeed. Some large pieces of land in Big Sur were repatriated this year.
There is a group trying to get an indigenous tax moving here in the bay.
I was just thinking about this the other day, while commuting to venice for the week to work, driving the coast down thru malibu and back. It has become so expensive to live near, let alone on, the coast of CA, that it truly seems to be a white priveledge past time.
You're overthinking it. It's primarily because white people are more likely to afford living closer to the ocean.
Mine too.
The apparent story about what happened there is a perfect example of how disgusting humans can be.
But this is just one of thousands of similar incidents in this country's history and millions in the history of humanity.
Take a city like San Francisco where they remove names like Abraham Lincoln off of schools and see what they go with with correcting historical land and property misdeeds.
And also that blacks are told by some other blacks certain stuff is white people stuff. Surfing or swimming for instance might fall under the category of "acting white."
My mom taught for 20 years in all black neighborhoods within 5 miles of the beach, many of her students had never been to the beach though because that's a white people thing. It's not always like this but in harder neighborhoods there is this element and the peer pressure is more than a lot of white people ever face.
my mother had a tiny slice of it divided a billions ways from her mother's side countless generations back think we sold it for 1/25 of a back mortgage payment in the earliest 90s. dead land, no water/infrastructure...no road near it...not even worth a dime.
aren't they happy with that one plowed liquor store in san clemente?!
* i really hated that guy...but he sold to me a ta young age so i can't talk sh!t.
f'n Robert Moses took 50+ acres of my family's land to create a public park on the water - I would also like this back
Apparently just blacks....
Sandbox: Should white families who owned 25 of the 30 Bruce’s Beach lots in Manhattan Beach also receive reparation?
Should white families who owned 25 of the 30 Bruce’s Beach park lots in manhattan Beach also receive reparation?
easyreadernews.com
Also, it technically wasn’t stolen. Everyone was paid.
This post is not an endorsement of eminent domain.