Manhattan Beach will host Juneteenth celebrations in 2024
The historical Manhattan Beach will be hosting Juneteenth events next year.
June 19 is a special holiday for Black people, and Manhattan Beach is a special place. According to The Daily Breeze, a recent 5-0 vote from the Manhattan Beach City Council confirmed that the area’s Parks and Recreation Commission will plan events for 2024 Juneteenth at Bruce’s Beach and other locations around the city.
The city council voting to commemorate Juneteenth at Bruce’s Beach is very intentional. Juneteenth observes the end of Black Americans’ enslavement and a little over a century ago, Bruce’s Beach was once California’s only Black-owned Beach.
The idea for a 2023 celebration was recently presented to the council, but they opted for a 2024 date to ensure proper planning. They did not want to present the city with a subpar event, but wanted to produce one that justly celebrated the day’s history and the area. Celebrations will happen around the city, including Polliwog Park and Civic Center Plaza.
The history of Bruce’s Beach is a testament to the importance of the Juneteenth holiday. Charles and Willa Bruce moved to California during the Great Migration. Once settled, they purchased land and transformed it into a leisure space for Black people. The original resort built by the husband and wife was called Bruce’s Lodge, which eventually became Bruce’s Beach.
The location was once the crowned jewel for Black families in the area. They could enjoy the sun, sea, and sand without worrying about discrimination or racism. Bruce’s Beach served as an escape for Black families for years until white locals began their efforts to push them out.
Travel Noire shared the racist history of the citizens of the area. In 1924 they claimed they wanted to build a park at the location. The Manhattan Beach City Council agreed and actively conspired with the neighbors to not only shut the beach down, but also prevent other Black families from purchasing property in the area.
Over the years, Black residents have attempted to throw events at the historic site to celebrate Juneteenth. Although the racism wasn’t as blatant as in 1924, there was still pushback. According to Black Enterprise, the local authorities enforced a gathering ordinance in 2021 after activist Kavon Ward hosted Juneteenth events. The policy discouraged large-scale events at small parks, including Bruce’s.
Manhattan Beach was considered the land owner in 2021, but eventually overturned ownership to the Bruce family in 2022.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.
This story was originally published April 27, 2023 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Manhattan Beach will host Juneteenth celebrations in 2024."