After almost 100 years the Black family's descendants who were returned the property sold it back to the county for $20 million!

Answer: Bruce's Beach in Los Angeles, California

Questions:

• Why was it important for LA County to return the land to Bruce family? 
• How might having the property ownership taken from the Bruce family have impacted their generational wealth?
• Can you think of any other past financial wrongs that have been righted or still need to be righted?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (NPR):

"Nearly 100 years ago, a local government in Southern California took Bruce's Beach away from its Black owners because of the color of their skin. The owners' descendants won a long effort to regain the land — and now they intend to sell it to Los Angeles County for nearly $20 million.

The return of Bruce's Beach to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce last summer was hailed as a step toward righting the wrongs inflicted by systemic racism. County officials say the pending sale will go some way toward restoring the wealth that was stripped from the Bruce family in 1924."

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Check out other resources to celebrate Black History Month 2023!

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About the Author

Mason Butts

After graduating from UCLA with a Master's in Education, Mason spent 5 years as a science educator in a South Los Angeles public high school. He is committed to supporting the holistic growth of all students and empowering them to live a life of relational, academic, and financial success. Now settled in the Bay Area, Mason enjoys facilitating professional developments and partnering with educators as they prepare students for a bright financial future. When Mason is not building curriculum or planning a training, he can be found cycling, trying new foods, and exploring the outdoors.

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