- The Bruce family, who last year was deeded the seaside property stolen from their ancestors, sold it.
- The descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce plan to sell the land back to LA County for $20 million.
A California seaside property called Bruce's Beach was sold back to Los Angeles county for $20 million by the descendants of the Black family who had the land unceremoniously seized roughly a century ago.
The Bruce family attorney, George Fatheree III, made the announcement on Tuesday, according to The Daily Breeze.
"My clients were essentially robbed of their birthright; they should've grown up as part of a hospitality dynasty like the Hiltons," Fatheree told radio station KBLA, per the outlet. "The ability to sell the property and invest the funds presents an opportunity for my clients to get a glimpse of that legacy that was theirs."
The Bruce family — descendants of Charles and Willa Bruce — was given back the deed to the Manhattan Beach, California property in July 2022.
Fatheree confirmed that the family reached out to county officials last week about the sale, which must happen within 30 days of notification, The Daily Breeze reported.
Fatheree did not immediately return Insider's request for comment. But a member of the family confirmed the news to Insider.
"The Bruce [family] only owned two of the lots appraised at 10 million each by three different firms, the county, and the family," Chief Duane Yellow Feather Shepard, the Bruce family historian and spokesperson, told Insider on Wednesday. "With covenants imposed by Manhattan Beach of the zoning and use, it was best for the family to sell and invest their wealth elsewhere."
Bruce's Beach Lodge served as a "sanctuary" and resort for Black people amid racial discrimination. The land was originally purchased in 1912 but in 1924 it was seized via eminent domain by the Manhattan Beach Board of Trustees, who wanted to build a park on the land, per USA Today.
During that time, Charles and Willia Bruce faced intimidation and harassment from white residents and the Ku Klux Klan, who attempted to burn the property down.
"It was a very important place because there was no other place along the coast of California where African Americans could actually go and enjoy the water," Shepard told Insider in 2021.
The property, which is currently a lifeguard facility, has been owned by LA County since 1995 until officials moved to return it.
Following the death of George Floyd, the call for the land to be returned to the family grew, and one of the prominent voices who was behind that effort and raised awareness was activist Kavon Ward, founder of Justice for Bruce Beach and CEO of Where is My Land.
"While I am disappointed the Bruces have chosen to sell the land, I understand their decision, as the city
of Manhattan Beach is anti-Black," Ward said in a recent statement. "Justice, in this case, should afford the family some peace; unfortunately, I don't believe the Bruce family descendants will find peace taking up space in a racist Manhattan Beach."