During segregation, Black shoreline communities such as Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, and Idlewild, Michigan, were vibrant retreats where families could enjoy summer without harassment. Some of them, such as Martha’s Vineyard, are well-known havens for Black beachgoers today.
“Segregation laws kept Blacks off beaches,” explains Andrew W. Kahrl, professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Virginia. He is author of The Land Was Ours: How Black Beaches Became White Wealth in the Coastal South. “The very idea of African Americans enjoying leisure spaces alongside whites was a challenge to Jim Crow because it implied equality.” Out of necessity, says Kahrl, “African American activists and businesspeople created their own beach communities.”
Some of those historic beaches, such as Bruce’s Beach in California’s Los Angeles County, were seized using questionable legal pretenses or terrorist tactics. Others were sold to developers. But some have survived and are thriving. Here are the details on six historic destinations.
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After 97 years, L.A. County officials announced a bill that, if passed, will enable the transfer of Bruce’s Beach, valued at an estimated $75 million, back to the Bruces’ descendants.
1. Bruce’s Beach, Manhattan Beach, California
Founders: Willa and Charles Bruce. They bought a sliver of Manhattan Beach, along with three lots around it, in 1912.
Famous beachgoers: Likely, none. Just hardworking folks looking to cool off.
Then: The Bruce family suffered frequent harassment by white residents. In 1924, municipal leaders leveraged eminent domain laws to seize the property, claiming it was needed to build a public park. Once Black citizens were displaced, the land then sat unused for decades.
Now: On April 9, after 97 years, L.A. County officials announced a bill that, if passed, will enable the transfer of Bruce’s Beach, now valued at an estimated $75 million, back to the couple’s descendants. The beautiful stretch of shoreline fronting an upscale community is open to the public. While it isn’t currently known as a destination for Black beachgoers, the news has generated interest.
Play: Bike, skate, sunbathe or swim. Nearby, there’s the Manhattan Beach Pier, The Roundhouse Aquarium, the Art Center, AdventurePlex and lots of shops and restaurants.
Stay: Best Western Plus Manhattan Beach is not on the beach but is chic and reasonable (BestWestern.com). The Sea View Inn is simple and has kitchens and beach views. (TheSeaViewInn.com)
2. Sag Harbor Hills, Ninevah and Azurest Subdivisions (SANS), Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York
Founders: Sisters Maude Terry and Amaza Lee Meredith in 1947. They developed the bay-front property into subdivisions.
Famous beachgoers: Susan Taylor, Earl Graves, Johnnie Cochran, B. Smith, Langston Hughes, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Duke Ellington
Then: The planned communities served as a haven for middle-class African American residents and summer vacationers.