Hanging Out at Chicken Bone Beach
In the 1930s, the area along Missouri Avenue in Atlantic City became known as the unofficial black beach, where African Americans brought their own food and culture to the sand, creating a special place called Chicken Bone Beach.
Around 1900, Chicken Bone Beach was officially set aside as the only beach for black people. It stayed that way until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. During the time of segregation, the beach became a place for fun and entertainment for both black tourists and local residents.
Interestingly, before 1900, black and white people in Atlantic City lived close together, and black people could use the beaches without any restrictions.
Source: Fannie Lou Hamer’s America