Lowcountry Gullah

Land is land. Either you own it, or you don't. Like any other asset, it has a value that can be calculated into a cost, right? Well, interestingly enough, the answer to that question varies, depending on who you're asking. To most people, the answer is a clear and definitive yes. However, to a Gullah / Geechee, or native islander, the answer might be a resounding no. Confused? Let me explain.

Most of the descendents of the diaspora are really orphans. We might know our direct parents, but time and generations erase our connections to who we really are, as the cultural void is so great. With today's tools, documents and some research, the distance between the known and unknown can become smaller. Author of Descended: Searching for my Gullah Geechee Roots, Keith Rushing not only did the work, he has shown how its possible to close the information gap and uncover exactly who and what he's made of.

America was a slave society and its involvement from the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade to the Domestic Slave Trade might be known, but the details are often overlooked. The Slave Traders or Brokers were the core and very foundation of the economic engine that kept slavery going. But, how was it done? Who were the Brokers? What type of people were they?

Musical influences can come from anywhere, but never before have we been able to understand the cultural and regional impacts that the very sounds that we hear in various parts of the US and around the world come from all around the diaspora. So from African beats to the blended sounds from the Gullah community to Cajun and Northern states, wherever you're hearing music, it can be and has been traced back to its origins. Listen in on a fascinating conversation about a study on where the variety of music and genres that we love truly came from.

When it comes to the Gullah Islands, Hilton Head and St. Helena, South Carolina and Sapelo and Jekyll Islands in Georgia, are usually the ones that are the first to come to mind. But sandwiched between Hilton Head and Charleston is Edisto Island, which just like the rest of the Gullah islands, has a rich and storied history of its own.

Everyone has a story. We often think about all of the negatives that came out of slavery, but it's nice to come across the tales of the good that people did in their community. Many white families risked their lives to rescue and help free enslaved people. Here's one of those underground railroad stories of heroism and the steadfast desire to do the right thing.

Most people don't know that Harriet Tubman was nicknamed the Black Moses and spent several years in South Carolina or that she was a nurse, spy and scout for the Union Army. Her invaluable work in Beaufort County, South Carolina led to the largest emancipation event of the Civil War, the Combahee River Raid, where around 750 enslaved people were rescued. That's just one more of Tubman's amazing accomplishments that she achieved outside of the work that she did on the Underground Railroad.

We don't usually think about the origins of a lot of the things that we say or do, but for every action, or how we do what we do, there's a time proven reason. Even the sayings that we share on a daily basis, like "it takes a village to raise a child" had to come from somewhere. The use of African Proverbs has become almost second nature to us, even though we don't know of why or where it came from.

Passing down elements of our culture is what we have come to expect from our elders. But, when the youth around us not only get it, but are spreading culture on their own, well, that's definitely something to talk about and support! Meet the West Sisters, who are extremely talented and promising young filmmakers who are sharing the importance of culture and traditions with the next generation.

High rates of Black land loss and heirs' property issues have been around since the end of the civil war and unfortunately, acres are disappearing at an alarming speed. The critical state that we're in usually is a nameless, faceless process that is often remains unspoken....until 96 year old Josephine Wright made her valiant fight to keep her land from the hands of a developer into a national story. From local support to a national story and celebrity contributions, Josephine's story represented and highlighted the plight of so many who are still struggling.

Everyone needs a vacation, but you never know when a trip or experience will impact your life. Going to Africa is one of those life-changing experiences that everyone of the diaspora should take. It might start out as being just another place in the world, but it could end up as an introduction to a new world of cultural connections that one could never prepare for.

We often talk about or recognize that we're descendants of enslaved people, but what does that really mean? Acknowledging it is just one part of accepting who we are and where we came from. But what's most important, is not only appreciating the richness of our our culture, but also capturing and passing down our traditional practices, so that future generations can continue on ancestral paths that were left for us to follow and hear the voices of wisdom from those who came before us.

Enslavers are often thought about as simple farmers or wealthy ones. What is not widely known is that the southern planter class of enslavers were mostly the creme de la creme of society. They were part of an organized and calculated club of people who were founding fathers, signers of the Declaration of Independence, Governors and other influential national leaders who made their money from slavery.

We often talk about or recognize that we're descendants of enslaved people, but what does that really mean? Acknowledging it is just one part of accepting who we are and where we came from. But what's most important, is not only appreciating the richness of our our culture, but also capturing and passing down our traditional practices, so that future generations can continue on ancestral paths that were left for us to follow and hear the voices of wisdom from those who came before us.

The children's TV show, Gullah Gullah Island had the first beloved mainstream Gullah characters. Look out world, here comes the first Gullah anime characters! From Akan and Adrinka symbols to incorporating traditional and cultural elements of the Gullah Geechee, the stories of our ancestors come to life in Camp Geechee. Created by Joshua Mishoe, this young brother is spreading Gullah in a new and fascinating way that is destined to reach and teach scores of new young audiences. Get prepared to do a deep dive into the culture and Camp Geechee!

The children's TV show, Gullah Gullah Island had the first beloved mainstream Gullah characters. Look out world, here comes the first Gullah anime characters! From Akan and Adrinka symbols to incorporating traditional and cultural elements of the Gullah Geechee, the stories of our ancestors come to life in Camp Geechee. Created by Joshua Mishoe, this young brother is spreading Gullah in a new and fascinating way that is destined to reach and teach scores of new young audiences. Get prepared to do a deep dive into the culture and Camp Geechee!

The Gullah Geechee culture is everywhere. Elements of the culture can be found in all that we do on a daily basis and it's all around the world. Music is one of the key facets of the culture that not only connects us, but genre after genre, you can find the Gullah sound. Enjoy a fascinating conversation with dual Grammy award winning artist. Charlton Singleton from the internationally known group Ranky Tanky about culture, history and the beat of Gullah music.

Gullah Geechee culture, which is rooted in West African culture is strongly aligned with the past and teachings as well as guidance from the ancestors. The ancestors are all around us in alot of ways. Their knowledge and directions come in a lot of differnt forms, from African Proverbs to the life skills that have been passed down through our families. Every aspect of their wisdom continues to be a significant source of the generational influences that we have today.

Slavery is America's dirty little secret, which is why there's so many misconceptions and misinformation that's in history books and circling around society today. The hierarchy of slavery, the business that it took to make it work and become successful, and the slave societies that thrived as a result of it are all not often talked about. Listen in to a fascinating converstaion that starts with the origins of slavery, to the ships, and then to the plantation. Regardless of which part you look at. a slave trader was involved every step of the way.

So what's in a name? Well, in African tradition, alot! Naming someone is more than just an identifying label, African names mean something. Whether it represents an event that happened that day like a storm, or because you were born on a certain day of the week, or even in honor of something or someone, African names have a purpose. They also are granted through a special ceremony, regardless of how old you are. Renaming ceremonies for those from the diaspora are becoming a must do part of the homecoming ritual in several African countries. Here's the story of mine.

Years ago, there was this big craze or "discovery" of what was called Ebonics or Black Slang. Well, first of all, its not new. For many reasons, enslaved people chose, out of resistance and as a way of holding on to their cultural identity, to create and speak an indigenous English based Creole language.

The art of sewing sweetgrass baskets is a time honored West African skill that's been passed down for generations. Today, those beautiful pieces of art are valued and often on display, but hundreds of years ago, the baskets had functional and practical use around the house. Basket sewers today are following in the footsteps of our ancestors by keeping the skill alive and broadening its appeal. Of course, like all things, there are challenges. With time and development, just like cultural land being erased, so are the fields where the sweetgrass grows.

It's not often thought of our Gullah Geechee ancestors as conservatives, but when you think about it, that's how they lived. With traditional skills and practices from West Africa, they used their community and daily way of living to be self-sustaining and self-sufficient. Those time honored skills of independence and strength also were rooted in the characteristics of fierce loyalty and patriotism. Our ancestors were built with all of the survival skills that they needed to to survive and thrive.

Today taking time to celebrate the holidays has become tradition. For enslaved people, the coming new year might have been a time of fear, dread or the anxious time that they've been waiting for to escape.

For generations, celebrating Kwanzaa from December 26th to January 1st has been a end of the year holiday tradition that's becoming more widely known and practiced. So what is Kwanzaa and why are the seven principles so important to our daily living? Intrigued? Here's a deep dive into this valued African American holiday that's based on family, empowerment and economic development.

For generations, celebrating Kwanzaa from December 26th to January 1st has been a end of the year holiday tradition that's becoming more widely known and practiced. So what is Kwanzaa and why are the seven principles so important to our daily living? Intrigued? Here's a deep dive into this valued African American holiday that's based on family, empowerment and economic development.

Living on an island and the isolation that comes with it, made Gullah holidays a little different, but special nonetheless. Getting ready for the sea island holidays was a year long process which made the seasonal harvests an an important part in the preparation that involved the entire family, from children to the elders.

Sometimes, we forget that the ancestors left behind all of the tools that we need for success. Through creative storytelling, proverbs, and skills, they passed us all a toolbox full of ways that they, even though they were beaten, found ways not to be broken.

Every day, Americans are using Gullah Geechee traditions in what we say, do and eat. The culture and its foodways can be traced directly back to West Africa for several centuries. One pot meals are just the beginning of a great meal that's full of some amazing cultural flavors, ingredients and Gullah Geechee impacts to American dishes that we enjoy today.

Being able to travel around the world and experience other cultures, tastes and languages is a gift that usually becomes imbedded in to our memories that we can cherish for a lifetime. For most people and destinations, that is definitely the case. Traveling to Africa, however, is not just a trip, nor is it just another stamp in your passport; especially if you are the descendent of an enslaved person. It is a spiritual and emotional experience that touches your spirit and connects with your soul. This episode is part one of several takeaways from my slave pilgrimage and tour of Ghana.

There's no argument that trees are important to our environment. They give us beauty and of course, shade. Most Gullah folktales involve trees, which always play a significant part in Gullah Geechee culture. Many trees grow for hundreds of years. Ever wonder if they could talk and see, what stories would they tell?

American history is full of dirty little secrets. It's uncomfortable and it is far from pretty. Regardless of what it is, it needs to be discussed, with all of the warts and blemishes that come along with it. Our story needs to be told along with our truth; telling it and sharing it exactly as it was.....raw, dirty and straight with no chaser. With truth telling should also include healing, which means reparations. Buckle UP for a raw and frank conversation with Dr. David Ragland from the Truth Telling Project on where we were, where we are and as a nation where we need to be!

We don't think about how important music is in our lives. For enslaved people, music was a source of strength that might have been one of the few things that helped them get throughout the day. Listen in on a fascinating conversation with Keeper of the Culture, Dr. Eric Crawford, the author of Gullah Culture in America, on the importance and power that music was and still is in our daily life.

History books are full of misinformation about slavery. They often depict the enslaved as slow, lazy and even ignorant people who needed direction, to become civilized, or incapable of being independent. Of course, that couldn't be further from the truth. The enslaved Gullah Geechee were the best of the best of the best. They were the highly skilled, technological craftsmen who were stolen for the knowledge that they brought with them, and the labor that they could provide.

The never ending debate about the past and history will probably not go away. So, how important is our history and why do we need to dwell on it? Is it that big of a deal for us to pass it down to our children? And if we do, who's telling the stories that we're sharing?

Growing up Gullah, Zenobia Harper was gifted with all of the rich foundations that the culture has to offer, but walked away from it. Now, she's not only embracing her Gullah roots, but she's actively working to preserve it for future generations.

The Lowcountry Gullah Podcast has been airing for three years and has more than 100 interviews available, all hosted by Luana Graves Sellars. In this episode, we flipped the script! The interviewer has become the interviewee! Here's the backstory on the creation of Lowcountry Gullah, the motivation behind it and just a little taste of my trip to Africa.

During enslavement, sometimes all that people had were the memories of oral traditions and stories that they could remember. Most of the folktales that were shared, were African in origin and interestingly enough, alot of those folktales continue to be the foundation and in a significant amount of the children's stories that we all know today.

Most museum's have theme and focus, as well as artifacts that one can peruse and appreciate for its artistic value or beauty. What makes the new International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston different, is that in addition to learning about the uniqueness of the Lowcountry, the African American experience and the Diaspora, this musuem makes it more personal. The IAAM deepens the knowledge of our culture by linking the history to our stories; which is how and why history becomes very relavent to all of us.

From performing on the stage, to the Nickelodeon TV show, Gullah Gullah Island, to painting on canvas, to authoring Gullah focused books, Natalie Daise is an incredible cultural force and truly a keeper of the culture!

The preservation of cultural assets like plantations is really important, just like telling the stories about the big house or the grounds. But what about the less obvious things? In most plantations there's usually a back staircase that the house enslaved used or what about the fingerprints that they left in the bricks that support those houses. What's the story about the people who were enslaved there? Join in on a fascinating conversation with Joseph McGill, from the Slave Dwelling Project, as we uncover those often forgotten and untold stories, because now more than ever is the time to make sure that they get told.

In Gullah culture, the food is deeply rooted in rice and seafood dishes that grew out of the diaspora and its West African influences. Gullah Chef BJ Dennis has built a reputation for not just amazing flavors, but for spreading knowledge about the ingredient's origins. His Gullah cooking may be what he's known for on a national stage and but to him, its important to continue to use the techniques of the ancestors when he's blending his ingredients and every plate comes with a serving of the richly significant history of the food. Chef BJ has been featured in local, national and international cooking events including the BB&T Wine+Food Festival, Netflix 'High on the Hog', P.B.S 'Moveable Feast' and Bravo's 'Top Chef' and sharing his story with me.

Just like for most descendants of an enslaved, many white people who trace their roots will probably discover that they are descendants of an enslaver. That's just one of the dark and often undiscussed byproducts of American history. For most Black people, it's not a surprise; in fact, it's usually a given. For white people, uncovering your family's role in the slave trade can be a shocking and unexpected discovery of your family's dark secret.

Like a lot of people, Glander Pressly grew up in the culture, but through her work she shares its richness all the time. For her, spreading Gullah is a deeply personal experience that she appreciates every day, especially when she looks at slave cabins or handles shackles and any other remnants from the past and the ancestors.

You never know where motivation or a shift in your life's path will take you. For Lotte Lieb Dula, it all started with a box in the attic that uncovered her family's past, led her to her calling. That box permanently altered not only how she sees the world, but what needs to change and how she intends to change it.

Most people don't know about the richly significant contributions from Gullah Geechee culture that's woven into the fabric of the US. Grow in culture and information every week, with cultural influencer and preservationist, Luana M. Graves Sellars on the

I bet you thought cotton was slavery's major crop. In the interior southern states, yes. But along the Gullah Geechee Corridor's coastline from North Carolina to Florida, rice became the most lucrative crop in the US. Join me for a fascinating conversation with Keeper of the Culture, Lee Brockington who breaks down slavery and the vital roles that enslaved women played in the story of rice as well as why Georgetown, SC was so important.

Why haven't we been taught the truth about Africa? Where did the perceptions of the continent come from? For generations, we've been sold misinformation about its size, resources and images that are far from the reality and incredible beauty that many of the countries have to offer. In preparing for the trip of a lifetime to West Africa, there are so many mental resets that need to be done.

The southern coast of North Carolina had hundreds of plantations, most of which, grew rice. Cultural ties between the Gullah, Africa and North Carolina, and the connection to rice is so very strong. That's why documenting, remembering and more importantly, telling the plantation story is so critical, so that our ancestors are honored.

Where did the Black people food(s) that we call soul food or southern cooking come from? Yes, some of the dishes came straight out of the Diaspora, but what are the true origins of all of the rich variety of foods and flavors? And how did they become what has influenced the popular foodways of the South that we enjoy today?

What happened after slavery? You know, the government's humanitarian efforts to make it right for the formerly enslaved? Where did Black people begin the generational distrust for the government? Several programs were designed to provide them support and a way to assimilate into society. Called the Port Royal Experiment, it promised land - 40 Acres and a Mule, financial stability - the Freedman's Bank Bureau, and education - the Port Royal Experiment. Programs were tried and then failed. This is what really happened.