Lowcountry Gullah

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...

The newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery. It may be the most recent addition to the federal calendar, but it's the oldest and longest nationally celebrated holiday in the US. June 19th, otherwise known as Juneteenth or Black independence day. Sadly, the majority of Americans don't know or even recognize the importance of this date to our history. Juneteenth is not ju...

So many incredible stories in Black history have been left untold. May and June are significant months in Black History. Here's the full story of two prominent Black American's who played a major part in shaping the nation's path to reconstruction after the Civil War.

Unfortunately, when people think about the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, most gravitate to South Carolina. But, when it comes to the story of rich and communities, Gullah Geechee culture is just as rich and significant along the coastline of southern North Carolina, as it is through Georgia and further down towards Florida.

Did you know that one of the first Memorial Day Celebrations began as a Gullah holiday?

When your family is facing a crisis, sometimes it's hard to think past your own situation. Heirs' property issues and the potential loss of family land is like that. I feels like "just a me problem". Land loss is very personal; especially when it's your family's heritage. Unfortunately, heirs' property is far too common and the toll that it is taking on Black family structures is in a word, devast...

Heirs' property issues in America are at a critical point. Most people with heirs' property might not even know that's what they have. The media has started to increase coverage, but documentary films like Gaining Ground | The Fight for Black Land are bringing the conversation and information to broader audiences so that hopefully one day Black land loss will be a thing of the past.

Heirs' property issues in America are at a critical point. For most people that have heirs' property might not even know that's what they have. The media has started to increase coverage, but it's documentary films like Gaining Ground | The Fight for Black Land that is bringing the conversation and information to broader audiences, so that hopefully one day Black land loss will be a thing of the p...

Aunt Pearlie Sue learned early in life that who she was and the importance of her culture was something to be very proud of. Now a Gullah playwright, performer, and Original Gullah Festival hostess, she's been captivating audiences through incredible storytelling and an amazing variety of ways that keeps the culture front and center.

From the hit TV show Gullah Gullah Island, to performances, to books, Ron Daise has been entertaining and sharing the richness of the Gullah Geechee story. Join in on a fascinating conversation about the motivation behind his newest book, Raptor of the Ricefields, and why we need to preserve our culture for the sake of our past, present, and future.

It's every parent's dream for their children to improve upon and go on to do and be more than they did. When a child picks up the family's traditions and culture, that's even better. For Gullah Geechee Chef Emily Megget's children, not only did they learn their way around a Gullah Geechee kitchen, they are taking their mother's legacy of sharing love and kindness through food to a whole other leve...

In the DNA and ancestry.com world, just the thought of searching for your ancestors can be an exciting journey of discovery, as well as daunting, especially if your a Black American. Frustration and hitting the 1870s Slave Wall might be what happens, but it is very possible that you can build a tree well into the early 1800s. Finding documents is fabulous, but the importance of discovering the sto...

In the Black Panther movie, Killmonger said "Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, 'cause they knew death was better than bondage." It's a powerful statement and concept that we don't think or about how enslaved people didn't easily submit to their circumstances and simply accept enslavement. Incredibly, resistance came in many forms.

Living day-to-day within the culture is one thing, but making sure that our children understand why we do, what we do culturally is quite another thing. Sharing and teaching cultural traditions, that include langauge, food, and even hoodoo, don't mean anything if they aren't continued by future generations, so that they can understand, and most of all appreciate where they came from.

From DNA to inherited traits, incredibly strong enslaved women endured and survived so many potentially insurmountable experiences. Regardless of what they experienced, they made a way from no way and had the wherewithal to ensure that they also passed down resistance, strength, generational skills and traditional elements that enabled the culture to survive and thrive.

Going to Georgetown, SC and digging into my ancestral lineage opened up my eyes to so many new experiences......and VERY strong emotions that I wasn't prepared for or expecting. From rice fields to slave cabins to slave cemetaries, understanding and deepening my respect for the ancesters is only the beginning of my Georgetown takeaways.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that slavery was a significant part of American History. Unfortunately, history books have glossed over alot of the dirty details. Most southern cities were "slave societies" that often dominated every aspect of the area's economy. Let's talk about the business of slavery, from the middle passage experience to slave auctions and how large some of...

If you know Gullah music, yes, you know her name and have heard her amazing voice. What you might not know about is how deep she is rooted in Gullah culture and the incredible work that she does by giving back everytime she steps off of the stage from performing with Ranky Tanky.

You never know where that cultural spark will come from. For some, it might be from a class assignment. For others, it might be that nagging feeling of curiousity and the desire to just know more. Either way, once you decide to do the research, the more you learn about your roots, can be the beginning of an incredibly fascinating journey of discovery.

For most Black people, we don't know anything about our past. Not our lineage, nor our origins. That's why capturing the stories of our ancestors so that we can understand where we come from has so much value. Only rarely can we learn about those amazing glimpses behind the curtain of our past and connect them all the way to Africa. For those who can, it's a treasured story that deserves to be sha...

So, what really is Black History Month? Where did it come from and why do we celebrate it?

The Gullah Seminole connection is something that most people don't know about but, pockets of communities can be found in Bracketville, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mexico, and several Caribbean Islands. Find out their incredible history, where they came from, how they got their name, their traditions and more!

Yep, that's who I am! And PROUD of it! Funny, I get asked alot if I am Gullah and who's behind Lowcountry Gullah. So, here's the story behind the work and why it's become my life's mission and purpose.