JUNETEENTH RIDE: BRUCE'S BEACH

Juneteenth, or the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, is a joyous day, but also one for reflection and perhaps to learn a bit more of this country's history. On this Juneteenth, we take a pleasant ride along the coast to Bruce's Beach, which had made quite the news in recent years. Bruce's Beach is a plot of land in Manhattan Beach that was owned by Charles and Willa Bruce in 1912. They turned it into a resort for black residents in the Los Angeles area at a time when they weren't allowed at any of the other beaches. However, in 1924, due to pressure from the white residents of the city, Manhattan Beach took the land through eminent domain to build a park. To address this act of blatant racism, the city of Manhattan Beach returned the land to the Bruce heirs in 2022, and then in 2023 the heirs sold it back to the city for $20 million. A little piece of local history that is a wonderful example of how it is possible to address the wrongs of the past and do better as we move forward. A joyous Juneteenth indeed.

Strava route:   / strava  
Music: Eu Genius, "Tropical Dance"

Bruce's Beach: https://ceo.lacounty.gov/ardi/bruces-...