Charles and Willa Bruce purchased a beachfront property. They turned it into a relaxing resort for Black clients.
Money was rolling in, and the white people who lived around the resort were ENRAGED to see Black people doing so well.
Without warning a white inspector knocked on the door. The local government seized the property, claiming it was needed for a public park! Years of hard work, gone!
Even worse?
The park that was “so needed” wasn’t even built - the property sat vacant for decades.
The Bruce’s never recovered financially - until now!
Since seizing the property in 1924, LA county officials have FINALLY returned the property to the Bruce’s descendants. The property currently operates as a county lifeguard training site, so the county will continue renting this facility from the Bruce’s for $413,000 per year.
Eventually, the county will buy the property from the Bruce’s for $20 million.
While this win is amazing, let’s not forget that WE as a people have collectively been robbed of land, opportunities, and wealth! Hopefully, this unprecedented case is a turning point - let’s take back Tulsa and Central Park next!