Diving Deep into the History of L.A. Beaches

This week, students in Dr. Dan Lynch’s Honors Humanities Seminar: Deep L.A. had an inspiring opportunity to hear from three accomplished authors whose books they have been studying: Dr. Elsa Devienne, author of Sand Rush: The Revival of the Beach in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles; Dr. Alison R. Jefferson, author of Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era; and Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times environmental reporter and author of California Against the Sea. 

This course aims to dismantle the myth of Los Angeles as a place without history, exploring how race, gender, sexuality, and class have shaped power, belonging, and resistance in the region. Students spend the year excavating these layered histories before completing a college-level research paper on an L.A.-area community of their choice. This semester’s focus on coastal history made these visits particularly meaningful and timely.

In her book, Dr. Devienne investigated the development of Los Angeles’ beaches from their man-made beginnings to today’s coastal metropolis. Led by Dr. Devienne during her visit, students explored the development of leisure culture and beach access alongside modernity and the body. The students also analyzed historical images of beachgoers across decades and discussed how L.A. beaches went from undeveloped spaces to the Hollywood backdrop they are today. Dr. Devienne also shared her journey as an author—first writing her book in French as she completed her PhD in France, then translating it to English alongside an expanded epilogue. Her insights into the writing process gave students a window into the intensive research and work writing a book requires.

Dr. Jefferson, whose award-winning work aims to “elucidate and recenter the African American experience in local history, heritage conservation efforts, civic memory, and the American identity,” spoke to the students about the histories of Santa Monica and Manhattan Beaches in relation to Black migrants and the creation of leisure spaces on the coast and inland. She connected her historical research to her current work as a heritage conservation consultant, highlighting specific projects like the Belmar History + Art Project in Santa Monica, which commemorates the African American community that once thrived in the neighborhood. Dr. Jefferson provided the opportunity for Marlborough students to deepen their understanding and appreciation of what it means to do historical work that honors often overlooked communities.

Ms. Xia, a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for exploratory reporting, spoke about the journey from her momentous 2019 Los Angeles Times article about climate change and California coastal communities to her award-winning book, California Against the Sea. She emphasized asking meaningful questions throughout the writing process: Which voices and communities were missing from the conversation? Whose stories needed to be told? Pairing science with humanity, she underscored the importance of remembering the “history of land use and the way we've redlined certain communities or disinvested in some communities has allowed them to become what we call sacrifices.” The visit ended with Deep L.A. students asking questions about Ms. Xia's work spanning journalism, filmmaking, and writing.

Each historian brought a distinctive lens to the discussion of Los Angeles beaches and their history. Deep L.A. students were able to engage thoughtfully with these authors, asking questions that connected their course work to the texts. These eye-opening discussions reminded the students that history isn’t just about studying the past—it’s about asking questions, challenging the norm, and diving deeper into a topic that excites you. As the Deep L.A. students move through this year-long course, they carry forward the example set by Dr. Devienne, Dr. Jefferson and Ms. Xia: a commitment to uncovering stories that shape how we understand our communities and ourselves.