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The Times podcast: The fight for a beach once owned by a Black family

Bruce's Beach monument
A monument for Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach. A Black family owned two beachfront parcels in the 1910s, only to see them condemned by government officials.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Nearly a century ago, government officials pushed a Black family from their beachfront property in the Southern California city of Manhattan Beach. Now, in what could be a landmark in this nation’s efforts to correct past injustices to African Americans, Los Angeles County wants to give Bruce’s Beach back to the family that once owned it.

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Today, we hear from the historians, family members and grass-roots organizers who championed this cause for years until it could not be ignored. We also speak with L.A. Times environmental reporter Rosanna Xia about her work, which amplified the story of Bruce’s Beach to the world.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guest: L.A. Times environmental reporter Rosanna Xia

More reading:

Manhattan Beach was once home to Black beachgoers, but the city ran them out. Now it faces a reckoning

Black descendants of Bruce’s Beach owner could get Manhattan Beach land back under plan

Editorial: Pay back the Bruces for Bruce’s beach

Listen to more episodes of The Times here

About The Times

“The Times” is made by columnist Gustavo Arellano, producer Shannon Lin, senior producers Steven Cuevas and Denise Guerra, executive producer Abbie Fentress Swanson and editor Julia Turner. Our engineer is Mario Diaz. Our intern is Ashlea Brown. Our theme song was composed by Andrew Eapen.
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