Missouri Avenue Beach, often referred to as "Chicken Bone Beach,"[1] is a lifeguarded beach on the Jersey Shore. It was an early and mid-twentieth-century Black resort destination and racially segregated section of the Atlantic Ocean beach at Atlantic City, New Jersey (between Missouri and Mississippi Avenues).[2][3] The name was initially most likely a pejorative or condescending reference to the packed lunches brought by beachgoers who were not permitted by unspoken sentiment in many dining establishments, but the Black community has reclaimed the name as a point of resistance and pride.[4] The beach is now home to swimming, sunbathing, jazz and other local events.
Missouri Avenue Beach, also known as Chicken Bone Beach
Blacks and whites lived in the area side by side with few problems after the American Civil War.[5] It was not until 1900 that the beach became segregated, due in part to pressures by local businesses.[6] It remained a blacks only beach until the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[7] During segregation and the Jim Crow era other area beaches did not allow African American visitors. It was given its colloquial name by locals due to the chicken bones presumably found in this segregated area during regular clean ups, although by all accounts the reports were simply unfounded.[8] While there were no signs nor laws prohibiting blacks from enjoying the entirety of the beach, the segregation was rigidly enforced by local authorities or more commonly, white beachgoers.[8] The Atlantic City Beach Patrol was officially desegregated, but its black members were in practice consigned to Missouri Avenue Beach.[9] Desegregation came in the 1960s.[10]
The Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, founded by Atlantic City native Henrietta W. Shelton, installed a commemorative marker to mark Chicken Bone Beach in 2015.[15][16]
Chicken Bone Beach Jazzedit
The Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation offers weekly Chicken Bone Beach Jazz concerts. In the summer, they are held next to the beach, at the Kennedy Plaza outdoor amphitheater.[17] In the cooler months, Chicken Bone Beach Jazz plays at the Claridge Hotel.[18][19]
Chicken Bone Beach Youth Jazz Institute offers free music lessons.[20][21][18]
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, African-American resort area on Martha's Vineyard with the similarly reclaimed, formerly pejorative name of "The Inkwell" for the local beach.
^NJ.com, Bill Duhart | For (February 14, 2021). "N.J. beach was the only one that allowed Black tourists, but they made it a hip place to be". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Stansfield, Charles A. (2004). Vacationing on the Jersey Shore: Guide to the Beach Resorts: Past and Present. Stackpole. p. 88. ISBN9780811729703.
^"Charles Library's newest exhibition celebrates Atlantic City's historic Chicken Bone Beach". Temple Now | news.temple.edu. July 27, 2022.
^Scott, Ron (August 10, 2023). "Chicken Bone Beach, Dizzy's, Great Jazz on the Great Hill". New York Amsterdam News.
^"N.J. Beach was the only one that allowed Black tourists, but they made it a hip place to be". July 13, 2019.
^"State of the Arts | Chicken Bone Beach Jazz | Season 37 | Episode 7 | PBS" – via www.pbs.org.
^Stephens, Ronald J. (February 12, 2014). "Chicken Bone Beach, Atlantic City, New Jersey (1900- )". BlackPast.org. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
^ abHopper, Dale. "Our History: Black History". ChickenBoneBeach.org. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
^Cunningham, John T.; Cole, Kenneth D. (2000). Atlantic City. Arcadia. p. 50. ISBN9780738504261.
^Jones, Jae (December 1, 2022). "Atlantic City: How Missouri Avenue Beach Came to Be Known As".
^"Legacy of Chicken Bone Beach Lives Within Henrietta Shelton - Front Runner New Jersey". frontrunnernewjersey.com. October 22, 2019.
missouri, avenue, beach, often, referred, chicken, bone, beach, lifeguarded, beach, jersey, shore, early, twentieth, century, black, resort, destination, racially, segregated, section, atlantic, ocean, beach, atlantic, city, jersey, between, missouri, mississi. Missouri Avenue Beach often referred to as Chicken Bone Beach 1 is a lifeguarded beach on the Jersey Shore It was an early and mid twentieth century Black resort destination and racially segregated section of the Atlantic Ocean beach at Atlantic City New Jersey between Missouri and Mississippi Avenues 2 3 The name was initially most likely a pejorative or condescending reference to the packed lunches brought by beachgoers who were not permitted by unspoken sentiment in many dining establishments but the Black community has reclaimed the name as a point of resistance and pride 4 The beach is now home to swimming sunbathing jazz and other local events Missouri Avenue Beach also known as Chicken Bone Beach Contents 1 History 2 Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation 3 Chicken Bone Beach Jazz 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editBlacks and whites lived in the area side by side with few problems after the American Civil War 5 It was not until 1900 that the beach became segregated due in part to pressures by local businesses 6 It remained a blacks only beach until the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 7 During segregation and the Jim Crow era other area beaches did not allow African American visitors It was given its colloquial name by locals due to the chicken bones presumably found in this segregated area during regular clean ups although by all accounts the reports were simply unfounded 8 While there were no signs nor laws prohibiting blacks from enjoying the entirety of the beach the segregation was rigidly enforced by local authorities or more commonly white beachgoers 8 The Atlantic City Beach Patrol was officially desegregated but its black members were in practice consigned to Missouri Avenue Beach 9 Desegregation came in the 1960s 10 Black showgirls at Club Harlem were said to have called the beach Sunshine Row during midcentury when stars like Sammy Davis Jr Louis Jordan the Mills Brothers and Jackie Moms Mabley performed in the city 11 12 13 Martin Luther King Jr was photographed on a family vacation to the beach in 1956 14 Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation editThe Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation founded by Atlantic City native Henrietta W Shelton installed a commemorative marker to mark Chicken Bone Beach in 2015 15 16 Chicken Bone Beach Jazz editThe Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation offers weekly Chicken Bone Beach Jazz concerts In the summer they are held next to the beach at the Kennedy Plaza outdoor amphitheater 17 In the cooler months Chicken Bone Beach Jazz plays at the Claridge Hotel 18 19 Chicken Bone Beach Youth Jazz Institute offers free music lessons 20 21 18 See also editThe African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey in Atlantic City at Noyes Arts Garage one of two locations for its collection and art exhibitions Nightclubs in Atlantic City Stockton University s Atlantic City campus Historical Kentucky Avenue Renaissance Festival annual festival celebrating Atlantic City s Black music and entertainment district Oak Bluffs Massachusetts African American resort area on Martha s Vineyard with the similarly reclaimed formerly pejorative name of The Inkwell for the local beach James Moody Jazz Festival annual New Jersey jazz festival in Newark North to Shore Festival annual arts and ideas festival held at the beach and other locations in Atlantic City Newark and Asbury Park The Black Excellence Festival also known as the BE Festival held annually Juneteenth weekend in Atlantic City Chris Columbo jazz drummer and Atlantic City entertainer Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May New Jersey Springwood Avenue African American historical music district in Asbury Park New Jersey Black history in Atlantic City New JerseyReferences edit NJ com Bill Duhart For February 14 2021 N J beach was the only one that allowed Black tourists but they made it a hip place to be nj a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Stansfield Charles A 2004 Vacationing on the Jersey Shore Guide to the Beach Resorts Past and Present Stackpole p 88 ISBN 9780811729703 Charles Library s newest exhibition celebrates Atlantic City s historic Chicken Bone Beach Temple Now news temple edu July 27 2022 Scott Ron August 10 2023 Chicken Bone Beach Dizzy s Great Jazz on the Great Hill New York Amsterdam News N J Beach was the only one that allowed Black tourists but they made it a hip place to be July 13 2019 State of the Arts Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Season 37 Episode 7 PBS via www pbs org Stephens Ronald J February 12 2014 Chicken Bone Beach Atlantic City New Jersey 1900 BlackPast org Retrieved February 21 2016 a b Hopper Dale Our History Black History ChickenBoneBeach org Retrieved February 21 2016 Cunningham John T Cole Kenneth D 2000 Atlantic City Arcadia p 50 ISBN 9780738504261 Jones Jae December 1 2022 Atlantic City How Missouri Avenue Beach Came to Be Known As Legacy of Chicken Bone Beach Lives Within Henrietta Shelton Front Runner New Jersey frontrunnernewjersey com October 22 2019 Chicken Bone Beach New Jersey CBBHFI Chicken Bone Beach A Pictorial History of Atlantic City s Missouri Avenue Beach via www youtube com Dr Martin Luther King Jr on Chicken Bone Beach digital library temple edu Chicken Bone Beach Historical Marker www hmdb org About Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation Inc New Jersey Enjoy free jazz concerts every Thursday in AC Shore Local Newsmagazine July 13 2023 a b Writer VINCENT JACKSON Staff April 24 2023 Atlantic City s Chicken Bone Beach and Northside celebrated in new book Press of Atlantic City NJ Casino Control Commission Recognizes Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation December 7 2023 Henrietta Shelton discusses the Chicken Bone Beach Youth Jazz Institute via www youtube com Kellert Mae July 8 2023 History and Jazz on the Beach in Atlantic City State Of The Arts NJ External links editChicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation at chickenbonebeach org 39 21 15 N 74 26 10 W 39 3541 N 74 4362 W 39 3541 74 4362 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Missouri Avenue Beach amp oldid 1205415065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
