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More Than A Beach Fight
By Penny Dickerson/Florida Courier
Protest, petitions and the imagery of one man shackled in chains led a two-week outcry by African Americans in Northeast Florida to preserve American Beach in Nassau, County.
The 40-acre beach was founded in 1935 by A.L. Lewis, Florida’s first Black millionaire who provided opportunities for employees of his Afro-American Life Insurance Company to own beachfront property and experience “Recreation and Relaxation Without Humiliation.”
An archived photo image of American Beach in the late 1930’s highlights the origins of beach camping pre-segregation.
Overnight ban opposed
Following widespread media coverage, the recent activity culminated with a Nov. 18 meeting of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners where key representatives showed up to be heard.
At stake is an ordinance that would eradicate an 85-year tradition of overnight beach camping, an American Beach activity indulged by many African Americans who still covet local memories of social grandeur when segregation prohibited Blacks from swimming in the same Atlantic Ocean that brought them to American soil.
Preserving culture
Peri Frances-Betsch gleans with excitement as she prepares to address commissioners on behalf of American Beach campers. (Photo credit: Penny Dickerson)
Peri Frances-Betsch has a vested interest in the ordinance outcome.
She is a passionate advocate of the great-great granddaughter to Lewis, and arguably the most public, cultural preservationist descendant since the 2005 passing of her aunt, MaVynee “Beach Lady” Betsch who is sister to Johnnetta Cole, former president of Spelman College and Bennett College.
Frances-Betsch co-founded “American Beach Afrotopia,” a progressive collective offering historic tours, weekend retreats, workshops and cultural events. Although she is based in Atlanta, the 47-year-old is a regular at commission meetings.
Support for campers
At the Nov. 18 meeting, Frances-Betsch spoke in support of organized beach campers in the unincorporated Nassau County Beaches. She asked commissioners to consider that within four unincorporated beach sites exist very different histories and traditions.
“I represent Night Sanders, American Beach Afrotopia and Florida Beach Cats.
Peri Frances-Betsch joins Rhonda Hastings, founder of “The Florida Beach Cats.” (Photo credit: Penny Dickerson)
We are small groups of campers with an 85-year tradition on American Beach. People have been camping here before there was a single building, said Frances-Betsch.
“We strive to respect the environment and community and are worthy stewards. We are sustainable, low impact, ‘leave-no-trace’ campers, and instruct our campers regarding glass bottles, sea turtles, and campfires.
“We have no opposition to expansion to the beach ordinances because we haven’t been breaking the regulations that are currently in place.”
Regulating beach activity for all Nassau County citizens has remained a county conundrum. At Peters Pointe, a beachfront park located approximately three miles North of American Beach, efforts have become a municipality challenge due to an onslaught of varied criminal activity, alcohol, loud music, trash and scattered debris personified by adult presence. Existing ordinances have been modified numerous times.
“We recognized that more change was bound to come. The current status quo was not likely to be a long-term option.” stated Frances-Betsch. “There were no restrictions on camping, no registration required, no necessary permits, and you could camp year-around. We were led to believe there would be an option for African-American campers. We were not expecting a total ban.”
A call to action
Nassau County citizens met at the James S. Page Governmental Plaza in Yulee for a scheduled Nassau County Commissioners meeting Nov. 18. (Photo credit: Penny Dickerson)
Previously held public meetings identified four overriding issues for review: bad behavior, federal law as to endangered species (specifically turtle nesting), creating one ordinance to regulate beach uses, and how to address beach camping.
“Commissioners received binders from the group today,” said Mike Mullins, county manager/county attorney who led a Beach Community Working Group formed in December 2018. The committee compiled recommendations toward implementing multiple existing regulations into a single omnibus ordinance.
“There is no way to address these recommendations until public workshops and hearings are held…they have held 16 meetings with well over 1,600 people and gone as far as they can go. Nothing will be done tonight,’’ Mullins said at Monday’s meeting.
Chain reaction
Public workshops followed by advertised hearings on the ordinance are expected to convene in January, a decision long-term American Beach supporter Ron Starling believes is a stall tactic.
It was Starling who became a one-man symbol of hope and chained himself to a gazebo post at American Beach’s Burney Park and then relocated to the beach when deputies threatened to arrest him.
Ron Starling created a media blitz that amplified his chaining himself to a Burney Park gazebo in protest. (Photo credit: NCFL Fernandina)
A Navy veteran, Starling founded Night Sanders in 1998, and from Nov. 4 to the chairman’s first gavel slam Monday night, he launched a protest to garner attention for the American Beach plight.
Any means necessary
Starling, also known as “Zurie,” released those chains and appeared in a suit and tie to conduct beach business with commissioners. He skirted ownership of rumors related to American Beach being privatized.
Ron Starling, known in community circles as “Zurie”, suited up for beach business with Nassau County commissioners. (Photo credit: Penny Dickerson)
“After 14 days of standing out in the rain, not sun or bright skies, but storms, these people you see in here, I spoke to them. I’m the one who got the press out there. Whoever started that thing about privatizing the beach, that wasn’t me,” said Starling.
“But I do believe that is what’s going to happen sooner or later. It was said by you, Mr. Mullins, on TV, that we were not privatizing the beach, but you did not put a period behind that statement. At the end you left a comma, and I put the ending that says N-O-W.”
Turtle tales
Sea turtles emerge May 1-Oct. 31 at night to lay eggs in nests dug into dry sand. They then return to sea. Starling’s contingency respects the process by camping bi-annually in April and November.
Ron Starling challenged commissioner’s timing and defended American Beach campers at the Nov. 18 meeting. (Photo credit: Penny Dickerson)
“We’ve been practicing turtles and how to keep them safe. We’ve even had the preserves come out and give classes for the past six years,” asserted Starling.
“You just decided now, in the past two years, that you’re going to use turtles as leverage to take people off the beach?”
Holding commissioners accountable for timeframe and change has been a refrain for Starling. At an Oct. meeting, he entered the following into record:
“For the previous 22 years, there have been no problems with camping; however, the issues at Peters Point are not the same as American Beach. There should be a solution for the two separate areas.”
Kindred spirits
Solidarity is thematic among American Beach supporters. They are empathetic to homeowners at Peters Pointe but seek to distinguish African Americans from recent reports they consider “caught up in.”
Frances-Betsch and Starling have a common goal, but different approaches.
“I support Ron’s enthusiasm, passion and determination,” stated Frances-Betsch. “But the imagery I choose for myself is not one of chains.’’
At the meeting’s close, Starling shared the following with the Florida Courier:
“I have zero faith in the integrity of upcoming public workshops and hearings, but I plan to attend each one and encourage everyone in Nassau and beyond to join me.”
Invitation to beach
In the interim, Frances-Betsch wants the community to maintain and increase its momentum to support American Beach.
“We shouldn’t be so fearful of what they are doing. What are you doing if you feel American Beach is being taken away? Frances-Betsch queried.
“We stopped appreciating American Beach, and it has now become a good deal for real estate brokers. Visit the historic museum, rent the community center, plan a girlfriend get-away, or bring children to collect seashells. Celebrate American Beach,’’ she added.
For more information on supporting and/or visiting America Beach, please follow these links!
American Beach Museum
https://americanbeachmuseum.org
American Beach Afrotopia
https://www.facebook.com/americanbeachafrotopia
Visiting American Beach (National Park Service)
https://www.nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/ambch_visiting.htm
New Community Center Opens in America Beach
https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20100401/NEWS/801254632
Trip Advisor: 2019 Review of American Beach/Amelia Island
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34341-d146174-Reviews-American_Beach-
Penny Dickerson 2019
Penny Dickerson 