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American Beach
We decided to visit the largest sand dune in Florida
it was well within our reach
just a few miles drive from where we were camping
at a place called American Beach.
And we saw the largest sand dune in Florida
which of course is what we went there for
but in visiting American Beach
we got the sand dune…and so much more.
There was a time, a sad time in our history
one part of some of our darkest days and nights
When African Americans were allowed to swim in the ocean…
just not allowed to swim there with the whites.
Abraham Lincoln Lewis wanted his employees to have a beach
so American Beach was created
giving African Americans a place to swim
all-be-it to swim segregated.
For many years American Beach thrived
until segregated beaches were needed no more
when the Civil rights act was finally passed…back n 1964.
The sand dune is all that’s left of American Beach
that and a few trees and grasses swaying in the breeze
but also posted at the site are some photos
of children, of churches and families.
When you see these pictures…when you look at the dune
and think of where all these African Americans sat
you think to yourself…children and churches and families
it doesn’t get any more American than that!
And you wonder as you see these segregated African American families
In frame after frame after frame
If there will come a time in this country
where all people see all people the same.
So as we stood near the largest sand dune in Florida
and were reminded of the wickedness of Jim Crow..
we prayed we never make the same mistakes again
that we made only a short time ago.
