When it’s summer, you have to go to the beach. Unfortunately, some people like to try and ruin it for others. A couple had tried to enjoy a beach in Michigan, only to run into another beachgoer who tried his darndest to get them to leave.
Posted by TikTok user Cameronwilliams377, Cameron immediately opened up about why the confrontation bothered them so much: “When you’re Black, you’re never really lonely.” In his video, an elderly man dressed in business casual stands a little too close, his hands in his pockets, saying nothing.
It’s only when Cameron’s friend speaks up that he finally talks, saying, “Well, you’ve been here about an hour. I didn’t have the police come down out of courtesy,” which is a really strange way to start a conversation. In the background, you can see swarms of other beachgoers enjoying their day, but for some reason, he approached Cameron.
Cameron’s friend talks back, “You’re a human being. You could’ve came down here with courtesy and just said it without calling the police. It’s not that hard.” The elderly man tells Cameron the “security company called the police” on them.
When they point to all the other people in the background and ask why they’re permitted to be there, the man tells them, “They own that property.” The man with Cameron tries to dispute that and says, “These people that walked over there do not own that property.” The elderly man says he knows them, to which Cameron says, “Right. You just know everyone on the beach, except for the Black folks.”
Eventually, Cameron and his friends have had enough. He placates the man and tells him, “I’m going to get off your side of the beach. But get the [expletive] out of my face. Right now. You’re in my personal space.” The man just stands there until he realizes Cameron is completely serious. Then, you can see him backing up as Cameron and his friends gather up their beach supplies to leave.
People online were unconvinced it was a private beach
Given the video’s uncomfortable nature, people found the interaction incredibly weird. Some sided with Cameron as well, believing the strange confrontation was racially motivated. Others were bothered by the concept of ‘private beaches.’
“When did public beaches become homeowner’s private property,” a commenter asked. Being on the same wavelength, another commenter shared, “The surrounding property owners be buying those signs and putting them up,” and argued that Cameron shouldn’t have moved and should have called the police.
Several photos were posted in lieu of comments, such as a white man being angry over a sleeping Black man; a white trash bag wearing a red hat; and a white cockroach.
Despite initially leaving, Cameron had shared in the comments that they ultimately returned. “Next is we moved and then after we talked about it, we went back because there is no private beach,” he says. Many agreed it was the right move to make.
