Race/Related: In New Orleans, a ‘Black beach’ is being rescued

After years of neglect and the intervention of local volunteers, Lincoln Beach is on the edge of revival.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 27, 2024 Michael "Sage" Pellet and Reggie Ford on the beach, where they spent years removing piles of debris and trash. Bryan Tarnowski for The New York Times By Xander Peters Meet the community saving Lincoln Beach During segregation, Lincoln Beach was the one place on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans where Black people were allowed to swim. Live acts like Fats Domino and Nat King Cole drew crowds to a recreation area that included a roller coaster and swimming pools. But with passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Black New Orleanians were finally allowed to swim at nearby Pontchartrain Beach. Lincoln Beach closed not long after. The area fell into disrepair over the next 60 years. The three tunnels that once led locals under the railroad tracks to Lincoln Beach's shoreline are fenced off and filled with storm water. Visiting the beach has long been prohibited, at least officially, although until recently the rules were rarely enforced. But in the last few months, would-be visitors have been stopped by security guards, a signal of change on the horizon for Lincoln Beach. In 2022, the city released a plan to redevelop the recreation area. Last year, it announced nearly $25 million in funding for the project. Then, this spring, Representative Troy Carter, a Democrat whose congressional district includes the beach, announced additional millions in federal redevelopment funds to preserve and revitalize the historic site. The city says it wants to open the beach "in a limited capacity" by next summer. The city's commitment comes after decades of work by community members who happened upon the beach and decided to save it. Bryan Tarnowski for The New York Times Continue reading → EDITORS' PICKS We publish many articles that touch on race. Here are a few you shouldn't miss. Audra Melton for The New York Times New Dynamics of Race Test Georgia's Status as a Swing State Many voters in the Atlanta suburbs were newly hopeful when Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race. But conservative values are still deeply rooted in the state. By Rick Rojas, Kassie Bracken, Amy Marino, Audra Melton and Arthur Thompson Adama Jalloh for The New York Times She Found a Home in Music. Now She's the Composer for the King. Errollyn Wallen, a Belize-born artist who has been named master of music by King Charles, discusses music as an escape, confronting racism and living by the sea. By Javier C. Hernández Colin Clark for The New York Times How Caribbean Pepper Sauce Gets Its Fire Across the region and the diaspora, the Scotch bonnet lends its distinctive, tart, numbing heat to this hot sauce, offering a taste of the islands and a punch of flavor. By Korsha Wilson Who Are the Black Swing Voters? Black voters are not monolithic. Astead W. Herndon, a national reporter for The New York Times and the host of the politics podcast "The Run-Up," asks a political strategist, Prentiss Haney, and Maryland's governor, Wes Moore, about how Democrats and Republicans can persuade different kinds of Black swing voters. By Astead W. Herndon, Rebecca Suner, James Surdam, Noah Throop and David Seekamp Lewis Jacobs/Netflix 'Rez Ball' Review: Warriors on the Court This inspirational sports movie follows a high school basketball team in New Mexico with deep Native American heritage. By Nicolas Rapold Diego Barba Soto, via Museo de Arte de Zapopan and Castilla/Klyuyeva Yvette Mayorga's Family History Is Baked Into Her Work This Mexican American artist, whose favorite tool is a pastry bag, explores her parents' journey and her own identity in "The Golden Cage," a show in Guadalajara. By Ray Mark Rinaldi Critic's Pick At the Whitney, a Stirring Ailey Tribute Moves Dance to the Edge Music's in the air, and there's painting and sculpture in imaginative variety as an art museum gives rare treatment to an ephemeral medium. By Holland Cotter Invite your friends. Invite someone to subscribe to the Race/Related newsletter. Or email your thoughts and suggestions to racerelated@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Race/Related from The New York Times. To stop receiving Race/Related, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018