The Fight for Justice, Reparations and Bruce’s Beach – Terrence Franklin Hosts ACTEC Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Video

In 1912, Black entrepreneurs Charles and Willa Bruce purchased a beachfront property in Manhattan Beach, California. “Bruce’s Beach,” which included a dance hall and café, was a favorite destination resort for Black families. In 1927, eminent domain was used by the city of Manhattan Beach to seize the property with the plan to create a park. With increased national awareness and the Black Lives Matter movement, a renewed demand for justice propelled the issue into the state and national discussion. On September 30, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill No. 796, which cleared the path for the Bruce’s heirs to have the property returned to them.

As host of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel’s (ACTEC) video series Planning for a Diverse and Equitable Future, Partner Terrence Franklin moderated a discussion between George C. Fatheree III, a real estate attorney with Sidley Austin, LLP, and Kavon Ward, a land-rights activist and co-founder of “Where is my Land,” to discuss the actions they are taking to help descendants of the Bruce’s win reparations. This case was instrumental in bringing awareness to the Bruce’s Beach injustice, racial discrimination, and land rights into the national conversation.

Watch the video “The Fight for Justice, Reparations and Bruce’s Beach.”

The video series was created as a project of ACTEC’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Committee, funded by The ACTEC Foundation, and will continue throughout 2022 featuring new guests and topics each month. For further information about ACTEC’S Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Committee, visit: https://www.actec.org/diversity