Lowcountry Gullah

To submit to being enslaved must have taken not only strength, but a fierce will to survive. So how did enslavers overcome ones will to resist or to run? The tactics often resulted in fear and torture as a punishment and or deterrent to keep enslaved people in line. It's not an easy thing to talk about or a thought that we want to dwell on, however, it's a major part of what we need to know and un...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that one of the first Memorial Day Celebration began as a Gullah holiday? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world premiere of the Mitchelville, took several years to reach the stage, but when it did, the play and the cast of eight, came together like a perfect storm and eventually, a family. Each charactor and story line might have started out as just words on a page, however, its historic and cultural impact on audiences and the actors has demonstrated lasting affects. Listen in to a facsinating co...

When highly successful TV screenwriter and playwrite, Aurin Squire decided to take on writing the play Mitchelville, it's not a leap to say that he didn't realize the magnitude and importance of the project by elevating the Gullah Geechee culture, by educating the Hilton Head Island community and even the lifechanging affects on the cast. Listen in to the play's backstory; why he decided to take i...

It's the one year anniversary of the Lowcountry Gullah Podcast! With 52 episodes behind me and countless articles on the culture, I can't not reflect on the evolution of Lowcountry Gullah and my deepening dive into the culture and its impact. The last few years have been and incredible journey that has really changed who I am and how I now see life both historically and even more so, personally. S...

The slavery story is often told with limited details and in today's climate, the information about what enslaved people experienced is often glossed over. So, here's the raw truth with the bandage ripped off; from Africa to the Middle Passage to the Carribean Seasoning Camps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people say that the Gullah culture is dying off. Yes, its had some struggles in the past with people being either embarassed by the langauge or by association, or even having to learn how to code switch in public spaces, but today, Gullah Geechee pride is thriving! Meet Aku Page, one of the Keepers of the Culture who is not only proud of her heritage, but is doing all that she can to make sur...

What is cultural appropiation? If you're not Gullah Geechee, can you wear a t-shirt that says Gullah? What about taking basket weaving classes or learning the language? It's a question that comes up a lot and that needs to be handled one way or another. So let's talk about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hilton Head Gullah, Caroline Grant grew up on the island when the culture and its traditions were in its purest form. Her experiences of growing up Gullah, along with the memories of two of the island's most respected elders, Dr. Emory Campbell and Thomas C. Barnwell are captured in the best selling book, Gullah Days. Listen in on this fascinating conversation on culture that takes you back to how...

Captured, subjected to Seasoning Camps then enslaved, Gullah women endured the unimaginable, yet they survived. and passed down valuable generational knowledges and skills. From quilts to sweetgrass baskets to dash cooking, they made sumpin from nothing and some way from no way. Here's a few of their incredible stories of survival and contributions towards making sure that the culture was passed o...

Everyone has a story and when you think about it, life is a combination of experiences and the memories that we share. Genealogy work is a great opportunity to take a peek behind the curtain of the past and uncover the details and stories that make our ancestors existence come back to life. Finding the information in your family tree can be a challenge, but when you look past the documents and can...

Doing genealogical research is one way to uncover your roots and learn about your family tree. With evolving technology, using DNA is another great tool for taking your research further. For Black people, DNA can open a greater door with connections to extended family, as well as being able to identify African countries, but even the tribes that you come from. If you're new to research and DNA tes...

History and the lessons that we've all been taught can affect different people in different ways. Not only can those lessons show us the cause and effects that make our society what it is today, they can also guide us to be better and to become better versions of ourselves in the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There aren't alot of Culinary Preservationists out there who have a depth of knowledge on West African food, culinary practices and flavors, especially one who can't break it down like Michael Twitty can. The author of a few incredible culinary based history books, including the Cooking Gene, Michael Twitty captivates as he educates you when he takes you on a culinary tour and shares some fascinat...

So, what really is Black History Month? Where did it come from and why do we celebrate it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History books have taught us that freedom came with the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1865, which is true for the majority of enslaved people in the US. On the sea islands, the birth of freedom came as early as 1862, in the town of Mitchelville. An incredible story of stength and independence, the formerly enslaved were able to prove that they could successfully run thier own town. Here'...

Freedom Day is just as important of a holiday as Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. What is Freedom Day? When is it? And where did freedom in the US begin? All great questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plantations, slave cabins and slave cemetaries are just a few of the remnents of slavery that still exist. Most personal items don't other than historic land that was passed down through the generations. In some cases they are being preserved and treasured and in most cases, they're not. Is there a consistent national plan? If not, should there be? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

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 are fabulous, but the importance of discovering the st...

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Watch Night Service is a tradition the grew out of slavery, yet still is an important part of how, for many African Americans, is the only way that a new year should be brought in. The practice, called “Freedom Night” or named the Watch Night Service, began in 1862, when anxious slaves were waiting on confirmation of their freedom based on the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, the service cont...

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 prinicples 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. See omnystudio....