User:Basilgreenmint1/American Beach, Florida

{We (Catsdwa and Menace55) Plan to focus on Abraham Lincoln Lewis' (A.L. Lewis) life and his contributions to the American Beach and the Afro-American community. This includes his business and his patronage to many Afro-American schools among other things. We feel his personal impact could be emphasized more and that the need for the Beaches at hand could be expressed better. Most likely, we will also add/edit to the page on A. L. Lewis if we feel the information is too specific for the American Beach page itself}

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In 1935, the era of Jim Crow and segregation was at its peak but that did not stop young Abraham Lincoln Lewis from fulfilling his duty to help his people with the power that he had being a successful African American man during the era of Jim Crow. During the Jim Crow era (1877-1950), racial segregation was at an all time high. African Americans were looked down upon and brutally treated with no help form the government because the governments was the one enforcing these policies.

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History of Abraham Lincoln Lewis: Was one of the first Black Millionaires in Florida; how? What did he do to achieve this and how did he proceed (not just with owning American Beach).

Business Achievements: Ties into above. Likely will be put on the Abraham Lincoln Lewis page, which is also criminally underwritten.

Segregation/Jim Crow: Extremely important background to why a) Black beaches [Sidenote: I am shocked that there is no Black Beaches Wiki page; thus, we should really have a whole background paragraph or two describing the issues at hand] were founded b) They *had* to be founded and the protections they granted.

American Beach: The supposed aftermath of Jim Crow/Segregation and also A.L. Lewis' generosity/kindness. What were the logistical issues with the beach and how did AL Lewis actually come to own it (Likely much harder than just paying for it).

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American Beach is a historic beach community in northeastern Florida popular with American vacationers. It is located north of Jacksonville on Amelia Island in Nassau County. During the time of segregation and the Jim Crow era, African Americans were denied access to many public amenities such as public pools and beaches in order to increase the value of nearby real estate. Abraham Lincoln Lewis, Florida's first black millionaire and president of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, thus founded American Beach as a community hotspot which welcomed all, yet was mostly visited by African Americans. It contains American Beach Historic District, a historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

History
American Beach was co-founded in 1935 by Florida's first black millionaire, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, and his Afro-American Life Insurance Company. Since many white-owned insurance companies at the time would not insure Black Americans, A.L. Lewis' company filled a niche in the community and was very successful. With this newfound wealth, A.L. Lewis bought and built various amenities open to Black Americans such as the Lincoln Golf & Country Club and, of course, the American Beach. Throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, summers at American Beach were busy with families, churches and children. It was a place where African Americans could enjoy "Recreation and Relaxation Without Humiliation". The beach included hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs as well as homes and other businesses.

American Beach played host to numerous celebrities during this period, including: folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, singer Billie Daniels, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Billy Eckstein, Hank Aaron, Joe Louis, actor Ossie Davis, and Sherman Hemsley. James Brown was actually turned away from performing outside Evans' Rendezvous, a nightclub on the beach. In 1964, American Beach was hit hard by Hurricane Dora, and many homes and buildings were destroyed. Prior to the Civil Rights Act, it was not unheard of Black beaches being located outside of city limits, thus forcing Black families to walk 10+ miles simply to bathe. After the Civil Rights Act desegregated the beaches of Florida in 1964, American Beach became less of a necessity and many African American Jacksonvillians turned to locations closer to home.

A.L. Lewis' granddaughter MaVynee Betsch, known to locals as the Beach Lady, returned to American Beach in 1977 to fight for its preservation. For years, she planted trees along Lewis street, offered historical tours of the beach, and fought to raise public awareness of the beach and its struggle until her death in September 2005. She wanted to make American Beach a monument to black Americans' determination to overcome the obstacles of the Jim Crow era. As of January 2001, American Beach is listed as a historic site by the National Register of Historic Places.