Monthly Archives: September, 2018
Fighting for the Gullah/Geechee Environment Globally
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) initiated the”Save the Sea Islands” annual tour over two decades ago. In that period of time, she has taken the Gullah/Geechee story to national and international platforms including numerous United Nations events, UNESCO, and most recently to the Global Climate Action Summit. She will then depart once again for the United Nations. Those that want to support her UN journey which will include three more events during 2018 can contribute to that aspect of the “Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands Tour” via this GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-queen-quet-goes-toun
Gullah/Geechee Nation Flooding and Emergency Management
Although Hurricane Florence has long left the Gullah/Geechee Nation, the remnants of the massive down pours of rain and storm water still remain. Rivers are still rising through the Carolinas. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) and Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition (www.GullahGeechee.net) and the Wisdom Circle Council of Elders and Representatives of the Gullah/Geechee Nation have been coordinating emergency management and recovery efforts in collaboration with the Black Emergency Management Association (BEMA).
In order to provide financial support for the efforts, please donate at these links and share them with your networks:
https://www.gofundme.com/GullahGeecheeStorm
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/schurricanerelief
Supporting Gullah/Geechee Nation Rebuilding, Restoration, and Storm Preparation
The northern most region of the Gullah/Geechee Nation has suffered a great deal of damage and loss due to Hurricane Florence and the subsequent flooding that is still on-going. The leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation have been providing disaster and storm preparedness information and will increase the workshops and trainings throughout the coast following the …
De Wata de Rise: World Water Monitoring Day een de Gullah/Geechee Nation
“De wata bring we, de wata gwine tek we bak.”
It was surreal that this proverb would keep speaking to my soul about how people need to get back to working together and paying attention to our environment on the Gullah/Geechee Nation’s coast. I kept hearing it in my mind as we watched the reports of the massive amounts of water that were being predicted would come onto Sea Island land and even inland due to Hurricane Florence. Storm surge coupled with high tide is enough, but when you add rain over days and days, no one had any idea of how high the waters would rise nor when the rivers would crest nor how much inland dams would be able to take before the water flooded land for miles.
I Been een de Storm So Long
Florence kept spinning faster and widening to show a commanding presence. Yet, for her, that wasn’t enough. The next things we knew, she was bringing other storms along with her too! I posted on Facebook” We hafa end this stormy family reunion fa tru!” Then folks that had never been in the storm wondered “What will ya’ll do?” In response, my soul sang as my ancestors did:
“I been een de storm so long!
Queen Quet of the #GullahGeechee presents at the University of Florida
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) journeys to Florida for the “Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands Tour” and will present at the University of Florida’s Auditorium in Gainsville on September 25th at 7 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public.
Cum fa yeddi who webe @GullahGeechee!
World Literacy Day and Climate Literacy
International (World) Literacy Day has taken place annually on September 8th since 1966. Interestingly enough, I found myself reading the Paris Climate Agreement as the clock struck twelve to usher the day in. I wanted to insure that as I spoke for the “Rise for Jobs, Climate, and Justice Rally” that I covered the major points of what many countries of the world agreed to in order to emphasize what those of us that support the agreement believe. As I read, I had to take note of the fact that the rally to be held on International Literacy Day would encompass the theme of the day which is “literacy and skills development.” Both are crucial in our stand for jobs, climate, and justice.
Toxic Dangers Threaten Gullah/Geechee Nation Community Meeting To Be Held October 10th
The Atlantic Ocean has sustained the Gullah/Geechee people for hundreds of years. The African ethnic groups and indigenous Americans, who formed the Gullah/Geechee Nation, have kept their fishing and agrarian culture alive in spite of threats from coastal development, pollution and climate change.
Now the Gullah/Geechee Nation faces the existential threat of toxic chemicals being set free off the shores of their ancestral home in the South Carolina and Georgia Sea Islands.
Culture on the Vine: Gullah/Geechee Muscadine
In the Gullah/Geechee Nation, the continuation of cultural traditions on the land is still a major issue. The traditionalists have long since realized that without our land, we do not have a culture much less a home. So, we continue to fight to maintain land ownership, combat environmental dangers, and to continue the economic empowerment of family members upon the land.
In Nesmith, which is on the western boundary of the Gullah/Geechee Nation in South Carolina, there are miles of acres of land lined out in cotton and soybeans. Suddenly down a long dirt road, you find a vineyard in the midst of it all.
Gullah/Geechee: Heirs to Heirlooms
Many Gullah/Geechee heirs lost the value of their inheritance and their heirlooms over the generations because they truly were unaware of the value that lies therein. They didn’t realize that land was not a burden because you had to pay taxes for it. It is actually one of the greatest assets that one can possess. An asset greater than that our ancestors had even during their enslavement on these lands that are now the Gullah/Geechee Nation is vision.