Lowcountry Gullah

Living on an island and the isolation that comes with it, made Gullah holidays a little different, but special none the less. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 origns. His Gullah cooking may be what he's known for on a national stage andbut to him, its important to continue to use the techniques of...

No matter what kind of modern technology you have, growing rice is a challenge. So imagine what enslaved people had to endure, working by hand to produce millions of pounds of rice annually. When comparing today's harvesting challenges to those of the past, one can only significantly increase the amount of well deserved respect that West African slaves from the rice coast are due. Without their la...

If you haven't had the chance to taste her delicious food, I'm sure that you're familar with her name. A sixth generation Daufuski Island native, she's authored several popular Gullah cookbooks and has dedicated her life to spreading Gullah. Sally Ann has spent her life sharing the richness of Gullah culture as well as its flavorful food. As one of the Gullah cooking experts in the must see Netfli...

For Keeper of the Culture Chef Sly, growing up in the Gullah culture included living off of the land and sea and working on a farm. Having fresh ingedients and learning how to cook by dash seasoning and from just the aroma or taste is a well known tradition that's been past down generation to generation from the ancestors. Gullah culture and foodways go hand in hand with a cast iron pan and Chef S...

Every day Americans are using Gullah traditions in what we say and eat. The culture and its foodways can be traced directly back to West Africa for several centuries. Things like one pot meals is just the beginning of some of the cultural flavors, ingredients and Gullah impacts that we enjoy today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of rice and its impact on the trans-atlantic slave trade, the US economy, the Georgetown story or the history's of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida could not be adequatly told without telling the story of Joshua John Ward. He was the "rice king" who was almong the wealthiest plantation owners in the south, developed the long grain rice seed, the largest enslaver in the...

Visiting Georgetown, SC became a moving and emotional experience for not only me, but also for my mother. I've teased you enough about her, now you can hear her perspective. All I can say is, buckle up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Church has always been the foundation of the Black/African American community. But what most people don't know is that many of the practices that continue to be experienced today, are directly tied to West African traditions ,p slavery and the Gullah Geechee culture. From the rite of passage called seeking, to jumping the broom and how ushers behave during the service, it's all connected...

A Georgetown native, Marylin Hemmingway has made her Gullah culture not only a significant part of her own life and career, but is bringing awareness to a global level. Through the Chamber, this Keeper of the Culture is sustaining it by informing others and creating important educational and cultural economic opportunities throughout the Gullah Geechee Corridor, from NC to FL. From the waterways t...

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...

The impact of slavery and the wealth that it created in the United States has not been correctly told in US History books, especially the role that rice played. Any conversations about Georgetown, SC have to include the incredible story and connection between slavery and Carolina Gold Rice.  Here's the full, yet untold story.......until now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 cemeteries, understanding and deepening my respect for the ancestors is only the beginning of my Georgetown takeaways. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it's amazing how life works, especially when unexpected things come together to alter your journey or direction. That's what happened when I took a freelance assignment in Georgetown, SC, which continues to have one of the strongest and most active Gullah communities. I went there thinking that it was just another cultural writing assignment. Boy was I wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Even if you don't know his name, you know his work. From the TV show Gullah Gullah Island, to the stage, to the Gullah educational programming at Brookgreen Gardens and to the voice of the Lowcountry Trail interpretations, Ron Daise is truly an ambassador of the Gullah culture. Join in on a fascinating conversation about everything Gullah, from the language, growing up on St. Helena to his experie...

Today, it's uncommon for the descendants of the enslavers to meet those of the enslaved. What's even more remarkable is for the descendent of the enslaver to care enough about her families past and what's happening in the present, to reach out and make contact. Now you know that origins of The Reparations Project. This two part series introduces the co-founders of The Reparations Project, which wa...

Today, it's uncommon for the descendants of the enslavers to meet those of the enslaved. What's even more remarkable is for the descendent of the enslaver to care enough about her families past and what's happening in the present, to reach out and make contact. Now you know that origins of The Reparations Project. This two part series introduces the co-founders of The Reparations Project, which wa...

The Heirs Property issue is at a critical point in the Gullah Geechee community. The question is often asked how land can be sold from under someone even if they're living on the property. Join me in a fascinating conversation with Pastor Robin Dease who not only has heirs' property, but has also studied it, as well as worked to resolve it with members of  her former congregation on John's Island,...

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. See...

As the Civil War was fought, decisions were be being made as to how to handle an influx of millions of enslaved people that were going to become US citizens. Programs like 40 Acres and a Mule, the Freedman's Bureau, the Port Royal Experiment and establishing the Town of Mitchelville, which was the first self-governed town for freedmen in the US were all elements of what was supposed to be the reco...

A thought made out loud 12 years ago about wanting to sleep in slave cabins, was the beginning of the chance to not only be close to where ancestors dwelled, but an opportunity to bring focus and a new found respect to their enslavement and learn from their experience. That's how Keeper of the Culture, Joe McGillis, the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project, began his travels around the country, i...

The religious practice of Seeking is a memorable spiritual experience that can have lifelong impacts. The Gullah religious practice of joining the church by Seeking is also a West African tradition and rite of passage that had been practiced as recently as the 1970s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyday, someone tells me how my work has either connected them to a culture that they didn't know was their's or simply a thank you for doing what I do to educate them about a culture that until now, was unknown to them, even if they grew up in it. This is the story behind how I found my culture and when Lowcountry Gullah was born. 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...

Haint blue is not just a shade of blue color; its steeped in tradition, beliefs and a way of life that continues today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.