The Ebony Beach Club Case: Uncovering Santa Monica's Racially Motivated Land Seizure

Introduction

In 1958, the City of Santa Monica seized the Ebony Beach Club, a Black-owned cultural and entertainment hub founded by Silas White. While the city claimed the action was for “urban planning” and “parking needs,” my research reveals a very different story: a racially motivated conspiracy that erased a vital Black space from Santa Monica’s landscape.

As a Santa Monica native and genealogist, I have documented how this case reflects a broader pattern of racial dispossession in the city — one that continues to shape Santa Monica’s present-day challenges.

Key Findings from My Research

• Secret Meetings: City officials and business leaders held undisclosed meetings to prevent the Ebony Beach Club from opening.

• Bribery Scheme: A bribery attempt was made to block the club, resulting in a criminal conviction.

• Eminent Domain Abuse: The city used eminent domain under the pretext of “parking,” but the true motive was to stop a Black-owned business from thriving.

• Erasure of Black Spaces: The Ebony Beach Club’s destruction was part of a larger pattern, including the displacement of Black residents from the Belmar Triangle.

Why This Matters Today

At the upcoming Santa Monica City Council Meeting this Tuesday, the city is expected to declare a fiscal emergency. This moment invites reflection: how much of the city's financial instability is tied to its unresolved history of racial dispossession?

The Ebony Beach Club case is not just history-- it is a reminder that the city's economic and cultural foundations were built in part by erasing Black spaces and silencing Black voices.

About Reparative Genealogy

Through Reparative Genealogy, I work to uncover suppressed histories of racial injustice and bring them into the public record. By documenting cases like the Ebony Beach Club, I aim to ensure that the stories of families and communities impacted by racial dispossession are not forgotten.

Author Statement

I am Kellie Farrish, a Santa Monica native (Samohi ’96, senior class president) and genealogist. My work focuses on uncovering the hidden histories of racial injustice in California and beyond.

Call to Action

The Ebony Beach Club case deserves renewed attention — not only as a story of injustice, but as a lens through which we can understand Santa Monica’s ongoing struggles with equity and accountability.

 Read and share this research to ensure this history is part of the public record.