"All" American Beach

By Gigi Lucas

American Beach in Amelia Island, Florida can easily be deemed one of the most patriotically named beaches in the United States. When I first heard the name, what came to mind was a picturesque location, filled with “traditional” families picnicking on pristine sand against deep blue skies. Pretty much what you would see in any tourism magazine. Upon my first visit, American Beach did not disappoint visually. However, as I dug deeper into its history, a very different story began to unfold. 

American Beach is part of Florida's chain of barrier islands. A location that would continue to be one of the main ports for slave trade in the south until 1821. Just offshore, many black lives were lost in these very waters whenever traders needed to offload illegal ‘cargo’. However, despite the traumatic experiences inflicted upon black people in this season of history, American Beach eventually evolved into a lively beach community where African Americans in the segregated south would have access to the beach.  This was made possible by entrepreneur A. L. Lewis.  American Beach became affectionately known as “The Negro Ocean Playground”. On any given weekend you might see black Hollywood elites like Ray Charles, Zora Neale Hurston or Hank Aaron enjoying the carefree town.

As I leisurely dug my bare feet deeper into the soft warm sand, I continued to study the gentle beach break just to the right of Nana Dune. At that very moment, an overwhelming sense of gratitude swept through me. I knew that had it not been for the example and life-long sacrifice of people like A.L. Lewis and his daughter MaVynee “Beach Lady” Betsch, we could easily forget what a privilege it is to adopt the lifestyle of a black water woman. A lifestyle that probably would not have been possible only 50 years prior. But here we are, a complex and colorful community of surfers, free divers and water photographers finally establishing our place in the pages of history. The greatest part is that the best is yet to come.

American Beach

Photo courtesy of: Amelia Island Museum of History

Stylish beach goers

Photo Courtesy of Marsha Phetts

MaVynee “Beach Lady” Betsch

Photo courtesy of ThousandWinds

To read more about the history of American Beach check out An American Beach for African Americans by Marsh Dean Phelts.