By: Asheebo Rojas (’23), Staff Writer
About 200 miles south of Chapel Hill, NC lies the nation’s “Black Pearl” — otherwise known as Atlantic Beach, SC.
The small town sits between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, SC, distinguishing itself not only by municipality — but also by identity.
As its nickname suggests, Atlantic Beach is Black, and that (among other reasons) is why you should visit this summer.
One reason is that it was made by us, for us. The town, like many other Black spaces, was created due to exclusion. Jim Crow laws and segregation did not allow Black Americans in the south to travel comfortably to popular vacation sites like Myrtle Beach. So, in the early 1930s, these Black Americans — many of whom were of Gullah-Geechee heritage — took matters into their own hands and created their own vacation getaway in response.
They purchased the property and opened shops, nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels to make Atlantic Beach a lively destination for Black leisure. The town peaked in the 1960s as it became a state-recognized municipality in 1966, which prompted the expansion of Black-owned businesses in the area.
However, the peak of the location was short-lived as the effects of integration in the 1970s made it difficult for Black entrepreneurs to compete with white property-owners who were now accepting Black customers. Atlantic Beach became less popular over the years while other areas like North Myrtle Beach grew.
Yet, even in the aftermath of its decline, the town is still holding on to its identity. With some Black businesses remaining with a majority-Black local government, Atlantic Beach is currently the only Black-owned beach in the United States. The town is continuously making efforts to uphold and restore its spirited past, including the second reason why you should visit — the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.
The Bike Fest is a motorcycle event that includes cultural festivities, food, parties, live music and entertainment. It’s held annually during Memorial Day weekend and was started by motorcycle group the ‘Flaming Knight Riders’ (‘Carolina Knight Riders’ today) in 1980.
The event is a large deal in the south, expecting 300,000 people every year to crowd the Atlantic Beach streets. This year, it will be held from May 27-30, and expect an even greater turn out as Bikefest returns from a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
If you’re looking to be surrounded by Black people, Black culture and Black joy in a place that holds so much legacy within the Black American experience, while also enjoying the hot sun and cool ocean water, consider Atlantic Beach in your 2022 summer break plans.
Sources:
https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/event/atlantic-beach-bikefest/15799/
