Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. The Gullah people inhabit many of the one hundred Sea Islands, which stretch along the Atlantic Ocean coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition. St. Helena Island SC 29920 As a counselor, he advises on matters spiritual; as a healer, he provides medicine (herbal) for various illnesses natural or unnatural. Through the hard work of these groups, Gullah traditions and communities will continue for years to come. In 2006 Congress authorized the creation of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Gullah is a creolized but unique culture and language born of Caribbean, Anglo-European, and various African traditions, languages, and ethnicities. The Sea Islands could only be reached by boat, and with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and swarms of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, most Europeans found the islands inhospitable. Lemme stir that pot! Despite the controversies surrounding their exact origin, scholars agree that they were brought a majority of the enslaved Africans in North America was from the Mandé or Manding background, and the Ki… Believers might wear blue beads, erect a blue bottle tree, or paint their porch roofs haint blue to keep away evil spirits. Music from the Hebrides Islands. Shaking my father, my mother would say, ‘Leave my husband alone.’” Gullah people might cover the walls of their houses with newspaper to stop evil spirits from possessing the occupant, as the hag slows to read. It is unclear where the term “Gullah” originated from, but some scholars have associated it with "Angola" where some of their ancestors are thought to have come from. Gullah tour guide Alphonso Brown explained, “Bridges and new roads meant blacks could move around more. It’s a culture deeply linked to African ancestors, whose lineage still echoes through the communities of today. Instead of working monotonously from sunup to sundown, slaves were assigned a set of tasks to complete for the day. A few lines in original dialect from the WPA interview follow: Budder Bear ax [asked]: Aint you got my fish? Creating rice plantations out of the cypress swamps and tidelands of South Carolina was not only backbreaking work that required moving literal tons of earth by hand to create embankments, but it also took intricate knowledge of cultivation, tides, and hydraulics that the enslaved brought from African rice regions. If you go to the city market in Charleston, South Carolina on any given day, it is likely that you will notice women selling or making sweetgrass baskets. Now they must choose whether to sell their pristine coastline to retire in … NOURISH YOUR SOUL. They are also located within the coast and the Sea Islands – which are a series of minute islands along the Atlantic Ocean. An Authentic Culture of the Sea Islands Gullah is the West African based system of traditions, customs, beliefs, art forms and family life that have survived centuries of slavery and more than a … Carolina planters actively sought slaves from certain parts of Africa, preferring peoples from the “Rice Coast” and “Windward Coast” (Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Angola, and Liberia) for their knowledge of rice cultivation. Victoriously Gullah/Geechee! As a Sea Islander explained in the 1960s, “The function of the root doctor is diverse. Marcus Garvey. The Sugar Train, Canopy Tours and the Gibraltar of the Caribbean – What to See and Do in St. Kitts and Nevis, Reclining Buddhas, Dugongs and Shark Caves – Exploring the Mergui Archipelago, The Jewel of Burma – Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, Two Provinces, Eight Islands and an Endless Array of Sights and Activities-What to See and Do in the Canary Islands, Conquistadors, Pirates, Insects and Lots of Tourists- A Brief History of the Canary Islands, Underwater Statues, Hemingway Lookalikes and Sunset Celebrations – What to see and do in the Florida Keys, The Fountain of Youth, Black Caesar and the Conch Republic – Some Florida Keys History, The Closest Island to Paradise – Touring the Islands of New Caledonia, Blackbirding, Cannibals and a Referendum – New Caledonian History, Bocas Background – A Short History of Bocas del Toro, Beaches, Lighthouses, Sights and Festivals – Nantucket Highlights, Wampanoags, Whalers and the Wealthy – Some Nantucket History, Giant Clams, Lava Tubes and Miss Sadie Thompson- Exploring the Samoan Islands, Exploring the Island of Love – A Quick Tour of Cyprus, Relics, Ruins and Riches – A Short History of Beautiful Cyprus, The Pearl of the Antilles – A Quick Tour of Cuba, The Golden Isles, Cumberland and Tybee – The Sea Islands of Georgia, Kiawah, Hilton Head and the Coastal Islands of South Carolina, Duck Hunting, Monetary Policy and Amusement Parks for Turtles – Stories of Jekyll Island, The Sea Islands of the Carolina and Georgia Coast, Estonian Swedes, the Eiffel Tower and Singing Sand – More Estonian Islands, Caves, Ruins, Domes and Sparkling Waters – What to do in Malta, Vancouver Island Attractions – The Parks, Trails and Islands, What to do in Jamaica – Beaches, Mountains, Rivers and Towns, Jamaica History – Pirates, Maroons and the City Under the Sea, From Fishing Village to Economic Powerhouse – The History of Singapore, The Islands of Cabo Verde – From top to bottom, Atlantic Escape off the Coast of Africa – Cabo Verde, History, excitement and more ghosts in Douglas, Know your ABC’s – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, The Magdalen Islands (Iles de la Madeleine), Goat Water, Guava Cheese, Cookup and Batik – Eating, Drinking and Shopping in St. Kitts and Nevis, Wrinkled Potatoes, Old Vines and the Cafe Tropical – The Food and Drink of the Canary Islands, Key Items – Things to See, Buy, Eat and Drink in the Florida Keys, Bougna, Blue Prawns, Coconut Crab and a Cocktail- The Cuisine of New Caledonia, Post 100 – Focus on Bocas – Food and Drink, Hungry in Honshu – Japanese Food and Drink, Wild Boar, Chestnuts and Corsica Cola – An Exploration of Corsican Food and Drink, Eating and Drinking the Samoan Way-The Food and Drink of the Samoan Islands, Grilled Meats, Old Wine and the National Cocktail – The Food and Drink of Cyprus, Old Clothes, Cigar Factory Tours and the Malecon – Some tasty things from Cuba, Frogmore Stew, Benne Wafers, Low Country Cuisine and the Sea Island Sipper, Slow food, Nanaimo Bars and the Victoria Sour – Vancouver Island Food and Drink, Madagascar Food, Vanilla and the Madaga{side}car, Onions, Shorts and Swizzles – Bermuda Things, New Nordic Cuisine, the National Dish and the Tivoli Martini, Coffee, Spices and a Cocktail – The Flavors of Jamaica, Singapore Food – Hawker Centres, Food Festivals and a Rib Recipe, The Foods of Cape Verde – Cachupa and the Green Cape. Remnants of African beliefs remain a part of the culture. Geographically, they occupy Sea Islands starting north of Georgetown, South Carolina, and continue to parts of Northern Florida. Why is Gullah Geechee, the English-based language and culture developed by the enslaved South Carolina and Georgia community, still such a mystery? The term Gullah itself hides a clue to its origins: it is derived from the word Angola, a country on the west coast of Africa from which countless early slaves of South Carolina were forcibly immigrated. Traditionally centered around rice, the cuisine also features okra, peanuts, benne (sesame seeds), field peas, hot peppers and seafood. From North Carolina to Florida the Gullah have lived a life little known beyond their communities. The National Park Service reminds us that “much of the food today referred to as ‘southern’ comes from the creativity and labor of enslaved African cooks from the plantations.” Gumbo, okra, and goober (peanuts) to name a few, are Gullah words for foods used widely in English today. But in fact, the very geography of the Sea Islands allowed the Gullah people to preserve their culture. Gullah originated on isolated majority African and African American Southern coastal plantations where there was limited cultural interaction with white settlers. Photograph provided by Chadwick C. Gullah Charm. The Gullah are African Americans descended from enslaved people taken from the west coast of Africa. The color blue holds the power to ward off the evil eye and harmful spirits. Utilize polyrhythms and call-and-response, critical listening and language skills, musical play, vocal improvisation, and the 12-bar-blues. Linguist Lorenzo Dow Turner (1890–1972) is recognized as the father of Gullah research, conducting studies in a time when many Gullah were protective of their unique and syncretic language. Rice also proved a point of continuity between the homeland of Africa and the American South. The Gullah and Geechee culture on the Sea Islands of Georgia has retained ethnic traditions from West Africa since the mid-1700s. A large number of these Gullah people live in rural areas on the Sea Islands which are located off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. See dere! The result was De Nyew Testament, published in 2005. Oral tradition was fundamental in Gullah communities, as captured by Works Progress Administration workers who conducted interviews in the 1930s. It is the Unique Culture of enslaved West African who inhabit the Sea Islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and … Others link the term to the name “Gola," an ethnic group found on the border of Liberia and Sierra Leone. These marshy tidal and barrier islands have a humid subtropical climate. The history and culture of the Gullah people is well preserved by their descendants, still living throughout the Sea Islands of South Carolina. Slow cooking without written recipes and seasoning to taste make each Gullah chef’s food unique. (function(d, sc, u) { Gullah Charm is just that, a mashup of culture through food. Although the islands along the southeastern U.S. coast harbor the same collective of West Africans, the name Gullah has come to be the accepted name of the islanders in South Carolina, while Geechee refers to the islanders of Georgia. De squash and peppa cumin een! Learn About the Gullah Geechee People. In the 1950s, major changes took place with the construction of bridges linking some of the islands to the mainland. Sea Island, St. Helena Island, St. Simons Island, Sapelo Island, and Hilton Head Island are some of the most important islands in the chain. Because of isolation and lack of access to professional physicians on the islands, Gullah turned to herbal remedies and root doctors. Gullah developed in rice fields during the 18th century as a result of contact Many also return when they reach retirement age. Most famous is Dubose Heyward, whose bestselling novel-turned-opera Porgy and Bess was performed throughout the North. In these festivals, aromatic scents whet your appetite to indulge their award-winning Lowcountry cuisine and communal joy. An Authentic Culture of the Sea Islands. According to superstition, serving hoppin’ John ensures good luck for the year to come. SUBMIT. The Corridor includes seventy-nine barrier islands and coastline from North Carolina to Florida, spanning thirty miles inland. No Pork Café 847 Sea Island Pkwy., St. Helena Island; 843/838-4379; lunch for two $25. The Via do my homework people, or Gala, or Gallinas are believed to be the African connection for the Gullah people in the Sea Islands. An Authentic Culture of the Sea Islands Gullah is the West African based system of traditions, customs, beliefs, art forms and family life that have survived centuries of slavery and more than a century of free lifestyle. The Sea Island Creole (Gullah) Language. Gullah communities have banded together to form the Gullah Geechee Nation, led by head of state Queen Quet Marquetta Goodwine, to promote and protect Gullah economy, culture, and interests. For generations, a string of tidal islands along the United State's southeastern coast called the Sea Islands were considered marshy wastelands. Gullah Grub Café 877 Sea Island Pkwy., St. Helena Island; 843/838-3841; lunch for two $20. The Penn Center on St. Helena Island is a popular attraction today and was the first school established for freed slaves. ‘Praise Houses’, which are small structures built on the large plantations during slavery, remain an active tradition. Here is where ‘protection’ comes into play. Your email address will not be published. “Gullah/Geechee culture is inextricably tied to the land and the water,” she said. The word Gullah is believed to be a mispronunciation of the African word Gora or Gola, which were names of tribes living in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Once those were complete, they had autonomy to cultivate their own small gardens or spend their time as they saw fit. Rice remains a staple part of the Gullah diet, and the famous sweetgrass baskets for sale in Mount Pleasant and Charleston are an African tradition passed down through generations within the Gullah community. Post Office Box 1207. It is the Unique Culture of enslaved West African who inhabit the Sea Islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida prior and since the Civil War. As a result, populations of Gullah can be found in places such as New York City, where Gullah churches can be found in Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens. var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; Besides sweetgrass basket making, the Gullah/Geechee culture remains tied to its traditional means of subsistence, such as shrimping, oyster harvesting and gardening. There were many Gullah who served in the Union Army and the islands were the first area where slaves were freed. The Heritage Corridor officially extends from Wilmington, North Carolina, south to Jacksonville, Florida. Discover the time-honored traditions and heritage of a culture whose roots have shaped the Lowcountry for more than 200 years. These marshy tidal and barrier islands have a humid subtropical climate. In Georgia, Sapelo Island with its Saltwater Geechee community of Hog Hammock continues the battle against encroaching development and hosts an annual Geechee festival in October. St. Helena Island SC 29920. You can learn about the fascinating history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people on a trip with Gullah Heritage Trail Tours. The language was first spoken by … Rice plantations were usually large holdings wherein slaves greatly outnumbered whites, and, excluding an occasional interaction with an overseer, they communicated only to each other. Gullah use E for he and she for hers/she. Les Sea Islands sont une série d'îles barrières de la côte atlantique des États-Unis ponctuant le littoral de la Caroline du Sud, de la Géorgie ainsi que du nord-est de la Floride.Plus de cent au total, elles se distinguent notamment par leur héritage gullah et le développement rapide, de nos jours, de leur vocation touristique et résidentielle. Discover the rich traditions of the Gullah culture that have helped to shape our American musical culture today. Much of their culture and many of their traditions have changed over time and many of the local blacks will tell you it was for the good. Tenki Tenki! photographs by Provided. Now a hag is usually an old woman who comes out of her skin at night to suck the blood of a sleeping victim. She uses the quilt as a tool to educate the public about the Gullah people. They speak their own language, called Gullah or Sea Island Krio. No! Furthermore, Geechee are designated either ‘freshwater’ or ‘saltwater’ Geechee, depending on whether they live on the mainland or on one of the islands. [One can consult a doctor] to see if they are ‘fixed.’ By ‘fixed’ I mean the state or condition resulting from the fact or belief that some evil forces have been used to cause excruciating pain, sickness, sudden catastrophe, insanity, or even death to an individual. In 1979, a translation of the New Testament into Gullah was started. Gullah … The Gullah are known for preserving more of their African linguistic and cultural heritage than any other African-American community in the United States. The Sea Islands is a small republic on the Atlantic coast of the North American mainland, consisting of the eponymous Sea Islands of former South Carolina and Georgia, as well as very limited coastal sections of the Lowcountry region of the mainland. The word Gullah is thought by some to be derived from Angola, the country on Africa’s west coast. The Sea Islands could only be reached by boat, and with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and swarms of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, most Europeans found the islands inhospitable. The Union Navy and Army occupied the islands in 1861 in an attempt to block Confederate ships. No longer free to fish and farm as they pleased, and unable to prove property ownership in most cases, many left the islands. It is unclear where the term “Gullah” originated from, but some scholars have associated it with "Angola" where some of their ancestors are thought to have come from. Although there are, as previously mentioned, around 200,000 people who speak the language, there are very few who can write it and it is therefore considered an endangered language. The Gullah/Geechees came together to declare themselves as a nation on July 2, 2000 with international observers and media present. It’s Easter weekend and as I pass by the praise houses out on the Sea Islands, I think how these small places of worship provide a window to the past lives of the Gullah’s of the Sea Islands. The Gullah (also called Geechee) are the descendants of African slaves who lived in the Lowcountry regions of Georgia and South Carolina.They lived on the mainland and on the Sea Islands.. The largest Gullah communities in South Carolina can be found on Daufuskie, Edisto, Wadmalaw, John’s Island, and especially St. Helena Island, which is the center of Gullah culture and whose Penn Center and York W. Bailey Museum celebrate Gullah heritage drawing many tourists to the island. Sea Islands vs Heat Islands 14. YouTube. View More Contact Us. Noh, Kabuki and J-pop – Music and theater of Japan, The Sea Islands of the Carolina and Georgia Coast - May, Goat Water, Guava Cheese, Cook-Up and Batik – Eating, Drinking and Shopping in St. Kitts and Nevis, The Mother Colony – A Short Journey Through St. Kitts and Nevis’ History, Singapore – Gateway to South East Asia – September, The Sea Islands of the Carolina and Georgia Coast – May, Zealand and the Islands of Denmark – November. They equate to over 100 islands. As a Sea Islander explained in the 1960s, “The function of the root doctor is diverse. For generations, a string of tidal islands along the United State's southeastern coast called the Sea Islands were considered marshy wastelands. Post-World War II transportation improvements brought an end to the long isolation of Gullah communities, and traditions began to die out with more outside influence and mobility. The lack of labor caused most plantation owners to leave, abandoning their property, and the former slaves were left alone in remote areas with little outside influence. The Gullah/Geehcee people still inhabit coastal areas from North Carolina to Florida. Many plantations were established on the islands and in the low country of South Carolina and Georgia and thousands of acres were turned into rice fields. The designation Gullah often includes all of the people descended from freed African slaves who labored on the rice, cotton and indigo plantations of the South Carolina and Georgia islands and low country coast. Gullah Gone: Preserving the Land, Water and Culture of the Sea Islands African Americans on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, have been farming and fishing their land since the Civil War. The Harlem Renaissance was infused with Gullah culture because of this exodus. The word “Gullah” itself is believed to be a shortened form or corruption of N’gola [Angola]. This too kept African song, dance, and food ways alive, even in the brutal plantation system. The sea islands and marshes of the mainland’s ‘low country’ were well suited to the cultivation of rice, as well as cotton and indigo. Slave owners kept these places of worship small because they always feared uprisings and did not want many slaves to gather together. The custom may be derived from the West African practice of wearing a protective amulet with small written passages from the Koran. Required fields are marked *, The Gullah and Geechee – People of the Sea Islands. They include Guinea Coast Creole that is found in western parts of Africa such as Sierra Leone, the Leewards creole found in the Antilleans, the Sea Islands creole found in the Gullah Islands, the Bahamian and Caicos creole spoken by the Afro-Seminole natives. It has elements in common with the Krio language of Sierra Leone, and Bahamian and Belizean Creole. It was not long after that that the importing of slaves from Africa began. The Gullah region used to include what is now Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, but today the Gullah area is only in Georgia and South Carolina. Instagram. Piping, Fiddling and Waulking. We were independent and we didn’t recognize it.”. Through this region runs the United States Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor that was founded through an act of the United States Congress. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The first English speaking settlements in South Carolina and Georgia were established in 1670. Efforts to preserve the Gullah traditions and language have led to a number of initiatives. It is also possible, according to others, that it comes from the Gola ethnic group that lives on the Sierra Leone/Liberia border or the Spanish name for the region, Guale, which referenced a native American tribe of the region. To get from Kiawah to Charleston, residents would have to sail or row from Haulover Creek to the Kiawah River, then on to the Stono River, Ellis Creek, and into Charleston Harbor—a long and arduous trip. Gullah Sea Islands History The majority of documented African slaves brought to this country were brought through the ports of South Carolina – the state with the most Gullah descendents. They were so important to the Gullah … As a counselor, he advises on matters spiritual; as a healer, he provides medicine (herbal) for various illnesses natural or unnatural. The day that I was asked to be a speaker at the Climate Crisis Moment Rally in Charleston, SC, I immediately agreed. Meanwhile, the Center for Heirs Property Preservation in the Lowcountry is working to help African American families retain their rural tracts as development continues along the coast. Many other Charleston artists of the interwar years painted and sketched basket ladies, recorded and performed Negro spirituals, and featured Gullah dialect and traditions in their writing (albeit often as caricatures and without context). You may also find them on King Street or elsewhere in town sitting on folding chairs, displaying their beautiful baskets on blankets on the sidewalk. The term Gullah itself hides a clue to its origins: it is derived from the word Angola, a country on the west coast of Africa from which countless early slaves of South Carolina were forcibly immigrated. Gullah language is creole English which is broadly classified into various branches. Many white plantation owners left during spring and summer to escape being infected. There are approximately 1,000 islands along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia which are separated from the mainland by marshes, alluvial streams and rivers. The Gullah people, also referred to as the Geechee, reside in Georgia and the low country of South Carolina within the United States. Gullah words courtesy of Alphonso Brown’s Gullah Guide to Charleston and Virginia Geraty’s Gullah Fah Onnuh. Volume: 31. The Sea Islands and the Lowcountry occupying thirty-five miles inland from Jacksonville, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida is now the Gullah/Geechee Nation. A large majority of the slaves imported from Bunce Island came from a tradition of rice growing and the coastline of West Africa around Sierra Leone was known as the ‘rice coast’ of Africa. The intricate baskets were originally woven to carry goods on one’s head and used as rice fanners to separate the rice from the chaff in plantation production. Budder Rabbit tell him: No! It’s Easter weekend and as I pass by the praise houses out on the Sea Islands, I think how these small places of worship provide a window to the past lives of the Gullah’s of the Sea Islands. Records also show, however, that as many as 40 percent of the slaves came from Angola. Janie Gaillard Moore grew up Gullah and explains a traditional African belief of becoming invisible and doing mischief: “Our Sea Island counterpart is the hag. Imagine heading to the beautiful Gullah Islands on the coast of South Carolina with an intimate group of amazing soul sisters. Climate Emergency on the Sea Islands @GullahGeechee. The Gullah retain religious practices that are a blend of Christian, Muslim, African, and Caribbean beliefs and  often attend Christian services in churches and praise houses. GullGeeCo@aol.com. The Sea Islands republic is populated almost entirely by the people of the Gullah-Geechee culture. Budder Rabbit, Budder Bear say: My nose aint fool me! Feel the beat: Spectators on Hilton Head Island look on as a Gullah woman performs a traditional dance during one of the many Gullah Geechee celebrations that are held annually in the Sea Islands Hilton Head Island was the first island to see major development. Forgotten people of the Sea Islands: Poignant photos of Gullah Geechee community shed light on descendants of enslaved Africans whose way of life is now facing extinction. The Gullah rarely left their communities and plantations, nor did they travel further than the neighboring islands. })(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); Your email address will not be published. Savannah, and especially Charleston, were major centers of the slave trade, importing them primarily out of Bunce Island, a British ‘slave castle’ or trading post, located in the Sierra Leone River, near the capital city of Freetown. (and Budder Rabbit stir collards on top) Plenty meat in here! An Authentic Culture of the Sea Islands Gullah is the West African based system of traditions, customs, beliefs, art forms and family life that have survived centuries of slavery and more than a century of free lifestyle. Like religion, Gullah cooking is a fusion of African, European, and even Native American traditions. Because of isolation and lack of access to professional physicians on the islands, Gullah turned to herbal remedies and root doctors. In the decades before the international slave trade closed in 1808, South Carolinians imported 90,000 slaves, and African-born peoples made up 20 percent of the population. Gullah Sea Islands History. Gullah developed independently on the Sea Islands off the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida throughout the 18th and 19th centuries by enslaved Africans. They … Many times he would cry out in his sleep. I wanted to bring the message from the United Nations level … They speak their own language, called Gullah or Sea Island Krio. Since there is always the danger of one’s getting ‘fixed,’ then some countermeasure must be devised. Collards and turnips! October 5-9, 2017. Deeply hidden in the bowels of the rapidly developing Southeastern coastal region of America, stretching from Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida, are the homelands of closed to half million descendants of Africans who have successfully maintained a lifestyle rooted in a culture called Gullah. Stories featuring humanized animals in cautionary tales were popular in the Lowcountry, and the most famous is Brer Rabbit, a clever trickster. It was common for white performers to represent black culture in that era. Superstitions relating to ‘hags and haunts’ and ‘root doctors’, who use herbs and plants to protect against evil forces, all resemble traditions in West Africa. Gullah Gullah Island is an American musical children's television series that was produced by and aired on the Nick Jr. programming block on the Nickelodeon network from 1994 to 1998. These baskets are a tradition of the Gullah culture. ADDRESS. The Gullah culture described by these observers reflects a blending of various African and American traditions. On these islands, people from numerous African… Now they must choose whether to sell their pristine coastline to retire in luxury, or find a way to preserve their way of life… Richard Knox, a Gullah man born in Murrells Inlet in 1897, recounted “a Lil short tale ‘bout Budder Rabbit and the Bear,” in which the rabbit tries to steal his friend’s fresh catch. Gullah Traditions of the South Carolina Coast In 1957, the Sea Pines Plantation Resort became the first development in the islands, and soon the rich and affluent had a new playground while, on the other hand, fences, property lines and taxes threatened the way of life of the Gullah. They spoke many different dialects, but one can see how African language and tradition would survive in this environment. The Gullah are African Americans who live in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and Georgia, which includes both the coastal plain and the Beaufort Sea Islands. Her inspiration for the quilt was to create a representation of how the Gullah people came together to continue the legacy of the Gullah’s dreams, hopes, and beliefs. A series of devastating hurricanes also made their mark, including the Sea Islands Hurricane on August 27, 1893, which took lives in the thousands, and caused extensive damage. Pork Café 847 Sea Island Pkwy., St. Helena Island is a fusion of,! 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