I like to think of California as a welcoming, progressive place – accepting and celebrating the differences among its people. Indeed there are many examples that support this idea and California is a bit of a melting pot, home to people from all over the world.

However, both historically and contemporarily this is not the whole picture. Racism has existed in California since the first encounters between settlers/explorers and the native people who already called this land their home. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) tracks hate groups and notes that 72 of them are resident in the state, some with multiple chapters. In recent months there have been multiple incidents of violence against Asian Americans, including in the Bay Area.

This page is my collection of notes, many historic in nature, about racism in California. These are things I learned (perhaps recently) or stories/anecdotes I found worthy of sharing.

(listed in no specific order)

Bruce’s Beach – a seaside resort established (in 1912) by Willa and Charles Bruce provided a space for Black people to relax and enjoy the ocean, in Manhattan Beach, CA. The racist residents and the city forced the Bruces out via eminent domain.