Save Daufuskie Island, SC @GullahGeechee!
by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com)
In my lifetime, I have celebrated with my Gullah/Geechee Famlee of Daufuskie Island, SC in Beaufort County, SC. I have also cried for and with them as their population dwindled from hundreds to a dozen folks living on the island permanently. Even from the other islands and the mainland, we continued to fight fa we fuss key.
I’ve share stages and dialogues with Daufuskie native Gullah/Geechee author, Sallie Ann Robinson
and fought for the rights of the Daufuskie Island community members with Sister Yvonne Wilson who has never given up living on her beloved island.
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition supported the efforts of the Palmetto Trust which worked to restore the historic Gullah/Geechee cottages that my beloved sisters of Daufuskie and their families continued to own even when family members moved off the island.
Just when many of those that moved off are seeking to return to the island and complete the restoration of the remaining homes that are Gullah/Geechee owned, the area near the historic cottages and a sacred burial area are under attack.
Numerous destructioneers have placed Daufuskie in their sights over the years. They built gated resort areas there that went bankrupt. Now, another destructioneer is coming at this from a different angle and using different tools. He intends to use a backhoe to further disrupt the island.
The Beaufort County Board of Zoning Appeals is about to consider a plan to have an approximately 5 acre area dug out on land which adjoins several of the key historic properties on the island located within the historic district. The destructioneer has called this a lake, a sand mine, and a beautification project at different times in order to get the permits from various South Carolina entities. Now, Beaufort County has to decide whether or not this sand mining will be allowed. So, I find myself standing up with my Daufuskie Gullah/Geechee Famlee once again to OPPOSE this destructionment!
I ask that you stand with me and let the Beaufort County Board of Zoning Appeals know that they should OPPOSE this request. Please sign the petition at http://chng.it/YYy7KyB2gF.
Daufuskie already has historic ruins, do not allow a destructioneer to ruin Daufuskie! Tenki Tenki fa standin wid we @GullahGeechee!
Tune een ta Gullah/Geechee TV (GGTV) fa yeddi disya bout de historic Gullah/Geechee cottages project pun Daufuskie afta hunnuh sign and share de petition fa hep we save dem and de land pun de island.
- Posted in: Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ Gullah/Geechee Land Ownership & Rights ♦ Gullah/Geechee Ourstory ♦ Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio Education Links ♦ Gullah/Geechee TV Educational Links ♦ Human Rights ♦ Queen Quet ♦ Uncategorized
- Tagged: Beaufort County, cultural heritage, Daufuskie Island, Geechee, Gullah, Gullah/Geechee Nation, human rights, land rights, Palmetto Trust, petition, protest, Queen Quet, Sallie Ann Robinson, SC, South Carolina, Yvonne Wilson
I think this so called lake is not a good planning idea because of the digging and constant hauling of dirt across our island will cause too much hardship on the people living around such a project. I just pray that Beaufort County will stop this project and let our islanders live in peace without all this noise and possible hazard to the environment around the community
Thank you for your support and backing on this matter. This construction would devastate the historic district. The oldest Gullah cemetery on the island is less than 1/4 mile from where they want to pit mine. Uncontainable that this would ever be considered.
Hunnuh welcum!