ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Black Land Loss Narratives Archive Project (BLLNAP) is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to uncovering and preserving the overlooked stories of Black land loss in America.
Through partnerships with civic groups and HBCUs, BLLNAP aims to collect over 1,000 personal narratives over the next five years—shining a light on the policies and practices that stripped millions of acres of land, homes, and businesses from Black families. These losses have played a major role in deepening the racial wealth gap and limiting generational opportunity.
Inspired by the return of Bruce’s Beach in 2022, BLLNAP recognizes the power of storytelling to drive justice. Like the Shoah Foundation’s archive of Holocaust testimonies, our digital collection will serve as a resource for education, advocacy, and policy change—ensuring these stories are never forgotten and help guide a more equitable future.
Almost a century ago, the city of Manhattan Beach seized the properties that make up the park known today as Bruce’s Beach. In 1995, the two parcels closest to the ocean were transferred to Los Angeles County. Credit / Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
Willa Bruce (Left) with her daughter-in-law and her sister in Manhattan Beach in the 1920s. Credit / California African American Museum, via Alison Rose Jefferson
Visitors to Bruce's Beach in 1920. Credit / Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection - UCLA
Anthony Bruce, the great-great-grandson of Charles and Willa Bruce, speaks at a press conference where California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 796, authorizing the return of ocean-front land to the Bruce family. Credit / Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images
SUPPORT BLLNAP
Support the Black Land Loss Narrative Archive Project by donating or by simply spreading the word to inspire awareness, activism, leadership, and change. Join us in making a lasting impact!