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You may have seen sweetgrass baskets around town, but do you know the story behind the locals who make them? Today, we’re hearing from Bria Graham, Program Coordinator at the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, to learn more about the Lowcountry’s Gullah Geechee people.

The people

The Gullah Geechee people are the descendants of the enslaved Africans who were brought from the rice-growing regions of West Africa into the coastal areas of the lower Atlantic states to work on the rice plantations. They were brought here because of their pre-existing knowledge of tidal rice cultivation–which is a challenging crop to grow.

On these plantations, the numbers of enslaved Black people greatly outnumbered Whites. As a result, they and their descendants were able to maintain many of their West African cultural practices alive to this day. These cultural expressions include the unique Gullah language, arts + crafts (like sweetgrass basket making), quilting + net-making, religious expressions (such as the Ring Shout), and their foodways– which continuously impact Southern cooking.

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor | Photo by Heather Hodges

The Corridor

Over the span of approximately 12,000 square miles, from Pender County, NC to St. Johns County, Fla, abandoned rice fields and vibrant artistry with precise craftsmanship exist– along with vivid memories of the contributions of the Gullah Geechee people.

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor preserves and educates the public on the contributions and significance of the people that have forever impacted American history and culture today.

It was established by an act of Congress in 2006, through the federal National Heritage Areas Act– which identifies sites that represents a significant story of local, regional, national, and even global importance. The designation of the Corridor as a federal National Heritage Area recognizes the Gullah Geechee people for maintaining their cultural traditions and for being an outstanding reflection of American values of ingenuity, pride, and perseverance. The intent of the designation is to help preserve and interpret the traditional cultural practices, sites, and resources associated with Gullah Geechee people.

The culture

Often, natives of the southeast Corridor are unaware or misinformed of the Gullah Geechee narratives behind certain cultural expressions and historical sites. As new development and gentrification continue to change the Gullah Geechee landscape, locals and activists have a budding interest in learning about the various professions of Gullah Geechee life.

An accessible way that the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission preserves the traditions and educates the public is by hosting free programs with the Charleston County Public Library system. The topics range from scholars in Gullah Geechee studies to personal stories of the lives of the members of the community.

Past and upcoming programs include:

Feb. 16 | Tracing Your Gullah Geechee Roots | Participants explored their family history.
Feb. 23 | Gullah Geechee ties of the Charleston/Goose Creek area to the Barbados | Hosted with Rhoda Green of the Barbados and the Carolinas Legacy Foundation.
Feb. 26 | Local Legends: A Celebration of Gullah Geechee History | 11 a.m. | Otranto Road Regional Library | 2261 Otranto Rd., North Charleston | Make an ironwork craft and listen to a presentation by the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.
Mar. 6 | Conversation with Chef Charlotte Jenkins | 2-4 p.m. | Cynthia Graham Hurd/St Andrews Regional Library | 1735 N. Woodmere Dr., West Ashley | Join a conversation with Gullah woman restaurateur + cookbook author Charlotte Jenkins.
Mar. 9 | Human Library Series: Get to Know Gullah Geechee Culture and Traditions | 2-4 p.m. | Cynthia Graham Hurd/St Andrews Regional Library | 1735 N. Woodmere Dr., West Ashley | Thomalind Martin Polite– a Charleston native, speech therapist, and mother– will share her journey in regards to learning more about her Gullah and African family roots.
Apr. 27 | Gullah Geechee Documentary Film Festival | 2-4 p.m. | Johns Island Regional Library | 3531 Maybank Hwy. | A series of documentary films showcasing the power + strength of the Gullah Geechee culture.
May 11 | Chef Kevin Mitchell Presents “Black Hands to White Mouths” | 2-4 p.m. | Johns Island Regional Library | 3531 Maybank Hwy. | Chef Kevin Mitchell will discuss Charleston’s freed + enslaved cooks, and their influence on Southern food.
May 18 | “Combee”: Freedom-Seekers of the Combahee River Raid | 2-4 p.m. | Johns Island Regional Library | 3531 Maybank Hwy. | Featuring historian Dr. Edda Fields-Black– associate professor in the history department at Carnegie-Mellon University and a specialist in the transnational migration of West African rice farmers.

Click here to view more information about these programs on the Charleston County Public Library website.

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We are pleased to tell the forgotten stories of the Gullah Geechee just as much as we are excited to revive memories and start new conversations about what it means to honor + protect the culture.

To learn more about the Gullah Geechee culture, and to keep track of our upcoming library programs– follow the Gullah Geechee Corridor on Facebook or visit our website.

– Bria Graham