We are American Beach Afrotopia, a collective for the preservation of the legacy of American Beach, a Historic African American beach in Nassau County, Fl, established in 1935 during the segregated Jim Crow era for “recreation and relaxation without humiliation.”

We are urging the Nassau County Board of Commissioners  https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/95/Meet-the-Commissioners  to allow organized groups to continue to camp on American Beach. Currently there is a recommendation to the commissioners from the Nassau County Beach Committee to eliminate beach camping altogether, fund additional sheriffs presence at the beaches 24 hours a day at the cost of $1 million, eliminate nighttime beach driving and parking among other things.

The tradition of African Americans camping on American Beach dates back to the inception of the community in 1935. We’ve been hosting camp outs at Burney Park on historic American Beach since 2015. Other groups such as the Night Sanders and Florida Beach Cats have been camping as far back as 1998.

July of 2019 we hosted our largest gathering to date. Over 100 men, women and children gathered to camp, commune with nature and learn about American Beach’s rich history. It was a beautiful, peaceful gathering without incident. A focal point of the weekend was, as always, respect for and stewardship of the natural environment of American Beach.

Soon after the July campout, we discovered the beach committee, formed at the request of Nassau county commissioners to address complaints regarding differing issues at nassau counties four beach access points. We were shocked and dismayed to discover the conversation leaning towards major changes in beach ordinances that would severely impede our ability to carry on a long tradition of campers on American Beach, although the vast majority of the complaints related to incidents at Peters Point, another Nassau County beach.

Up until the September 26th meeting we had been led to believe that an actual system would be put in place to manage beach camping, parking, driving etc. At the September meeting however, an abrupt change in the dialogue occurred and a decision was made to abdicate the responsibility of managing these issues and instead the proposed solution was put forth to recommend to the county commissioners the elimination of ALL camping,night driving and parking on ALL four access points, from 9pm to 6 am by unanimous vote. Click to read the minutes and agenda of the beach committee meetings https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/DocumentCenter/Index/958

The rights of citizens to camp overnight on Nassau County Beaches is at risk. While we are concerned with camping rights on American Beach, the beach committee recommendation and upcoming BOCC vote and decision will affect a variety of beach issues on all four beach access points; such as driving, camping, parking, fines, etc.

Our requests for the Nassau County Board of Commissioners:

1. Allow recognized organized groups such as American Beach Afrotopia, the Nightsanders and the Beach Cats, to camp overnight with a pre-approved permit via online registration.

2. Allow "primitive" camping until new programing is implemented

3. Please take into consideration the unique historic significance of American Beach distinct from the other beach access points as it relates to goal 3 of the beach committee: "to preserve local heritage, culture and lifestyle" 

4. Allow for community input in the decision making process regarding beach policies.

5. Allow 24 hour beachfront parking

For more information, follow us at American Beach Afrotopia on Facebook

We thank you for your support and we'll see you on Historic American Beach