A00135 - Bruce's Beach: The Unhealed Wounds

 


As most of you know by now, I have spent the better part of two years monitoring the news reports regarding Bruce's Beach (see the email below) and my family connection to the Bruce family.  In today's (March 19, 2023) edition of the Los Angeles Times, the following article appears:

This article chronicles the unveiling of the new historical plaque that the City of Manhattan Beach has installed to more accurately inform the public as to the wrongs done to the Bruce Family 100 years ago.  Ostensibly, this action by the City of Manhattan Beach is the final act of reparations that will be done.  However, as indicated by the following editorial which accompanied the Bruce's Beach article, it appears that many consider the efforts of Manhattan Beach to be hollow and that they may actually deepen the wounds instead of initiating a healing reconciliation.  

2023 marks my 70th year on this planet and the 60th year since Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech.  There has been great progress during my lifetime and the fact that the Bruce Family received some compensation for the theft of their property was a highlight.  However, based on what happened yesterday in Manhattan Beach and what continues to happen throughout the country, it seems apparent that we still have a long way to go to fulfill Dr. King's Dream.

Peace, 

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
March 19, 2023  



-----Original Message-----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com
To: 
Sent: Tue, Feb 21, 2023 3:54 am
Subject: Bruce's Beach Revisited



Over the weekend, the New York Times published a detailed article with great photos on Bruce's Beach.  

Bruce’s Beach Was Hailed as a Reparations Model. Then the Family Sold It. https://nyti.ms/3IjT38m

There was not much added to what has been previously discussed except for a few bits of information that I found of interest.  First, it was interesting to read the comments of Amherst's own MacArthur Fellow, Thomas Mitchell, chiming in on the issue of Bruce's Beach as a case study of reparations. I suggest that everyone read the article for the significance of those comments. 


The second bit of information is the number of heirs who will be sharing in the proceeds from the restoration of Bruce's Beach to the family.  According to the article, there are only four heirs and one of the heirs is 65 years old. The negotiated rent for the Bruce Beach parcels is a little over $400,000 per year meaning that, if split four ways, each of the heirs would receive a little over $100,000 per year for renting the parcels for the next two years.  After two years, there was no guarantee that the rental income would continue and the prospects of developing the parcels appeared to be slim.  Accordingly, the sale of the parcels for $20 million now may have been the wisest move, especially for one of the heirs who is 65 years old and may not be in the best of health.

Finally, the article notes that while the City has authorized some improvements to the park and the installation of more accurate informative murals explaining the history of the park, the City of Manhattan Beach has still not officially apologized for the actions taken 100 years ago.  My Manhattan Beach classmate correctly pointed out to me last month that my optimistic post about Reparations, Repentance, and Reconciliation was not accurate.  There may be remorse but there has been no repentance and the reaction of the Bruce Family members to the lack of an official apology best indicates the stage of reconciliation that actually exists ... and probably always will.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

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