The descendants of a black family who were forced to sell their family home due to racial segregation laws are set to inherit the property again, now valued at $75 million.
The home in Manhattan Beach, California was owned by Charles and Willa Bruce up until 1923 when they were forced to leave the area due to segregationist laws and intimidation from the local branch of the racist white supremacist terror group the Ku Klux Klan. The couple had original bought the property for $1,225 in 1912 and undertook extensive renovations.
The area had become popular with black families wanting their piece of the American dream. However, as the area became a tourist hot-spot locals feared that having a high-percentage of black people in the area would drive them away. Therefore, laws were changed to force the black families out and they were subject to violence and intimidation for the KKK. At one point, the KKK even tried to burn down the home with the Bruce's inside.
Charles and Willa Bruce. #BrucesBeach 🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/m507To6BtD
— Now Mr. Pretty Tony..... (@goodkounsel) March 29, 2021
LA county Supervisor Janice Hahn said of the case:
"The Bruces had their California dream stolen from them. Generations of their descendants almost certainly would have been millionaires if they had been able to keep their property and their successful business."
The property was taken into the hands of the city in 1929 and left empty. It now serves as the base for a swimming school and local park.
The City Council stated:
"The Manhattan Beach of today is not the Manhattan Beach of one hundred years ago. The community and population of the City of Manhattan Beach are loving, tolerant, and welcoming to all. We reject racism, hate, intolerance, and exclusion. Today's residents are not responsible for the actions of others 100 years ago."
A Black family's beach property in California was taken during the Jim Crow era. Now, Los Angeles County officials say they are working with state lawmakers on legislation that would return the property — worth approximately $75 million — to the family. https://t.co/IgzIPU860r
— CNN (@CNN) April 13, 2021
A spokesperson for the family said:
"After the family was railroaded out of town, they lived in Los Angeles destitute and so therefore, these people who did this to my family need to rectify it by any means, including apologize. I am hopeful that the people in California will see the importance of trying to right this wrong. Black-owned properties experienced tremendous amounts of hatred, harassment, hostility and violence at the hand of the Ku Klux Klan, who cold-bloodedly threatened the Bruces and other families who dared to enjoy their property."
[h/t: Upworthy]
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