Category Archives: Environmental Justice
I’m Not Your Entertainment: Black and Indigenous Relevance and Relegation in Climate Action
I am now clear on why James Baldwin articulated clearly, “I’m not your Negro.” I could hear him speaking to my soul as I came to this space to make clear that “I’m not your entertainment.” We will no longer have what is relevant relegated to the side.
Celebrate Black History Month 2023 with de Gullah/Geechee Famlee
Jayn de Gullah/Geechee Famlee een celebration of Black History and living legacy pun de islandt and virtually!
Protect the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Protection Overlay for St. Helena Island
We are calling on you to stand with the Gullah/Geechees of St. Helena Island to protect our cultural heritage and the sustainability of our island! Tell Beaufort County to keep the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay District in tact as it is! DO NOT provided any text changes to the CPO! DO NOT allow any map amendments to the CPO District! DO NOT allow any building on Pine Island! Stop the destructionment of historic St. Helena and Pine Islands in the Gullah/Geechee Nation and continue to protect the human and environmental rights of native Gullah/Geechees!
Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/GullahGeecheeCulturalProtectionOverlay
Queen’s Chronicle: Journey to the Land of Queens and Pharaohs Part 1
I found myself overlooking the pyramids feeling this power emanating to and through me. The word “empowerment” took on an entirely new meaning when watching the sunrise and set in this land of queens and pharaohs. Many solely see a pyramid as a place of death whereas others see it as I do, as a place of healing energy and the apex as a location of higher consciousness. In the midst of the power of the sun above the apex of the pyramid, your energy is centered and balanced and your spiritual power is renewed. Renewal is what is going to take to transmit this power and these ideals to the world because we must each seek transformation-“…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2b). It may just take coming to a land like this to be with others of like mind to find that renewal or it may simply take a moment of prayer and meditation as the sun sets not only over the pyramids or the Red Sea in Sinai, but over a sincere person that at the end of every day simply seeks to continue purposefully walking in all lands seeking order, balance, truth, reciprocity, harmony, righteousness, morality and justice. Wherever, the next steps take me, I pray as I do in our Gullah/Geechee Spiritual, “Walk with Me Lord!”
Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation Amongst the World Leaders at UN COP 27 in Egypt
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) and the Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition has presented at several United Nations Council of Parties (UN COP) events since the first one that she attended in Marrakesh, Morocco. She made it back to Africa again this year to be one of the world leaders focused on climate action and will present several times in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt.
Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month 2022
For those that are intrigued by the traditions of native Gullah/Geechees, there are two major times of year that folks should engage in the events and postings of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” takes place from the final Saturday in July until the first Sunday in August annually and “Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month” which is October. A series of events hosted by native Gullah/Geechees takes place throughout the Gullah/Geechee Nation from Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL are held annually. The celebrations combines online posting via http://www.Facebook.com/GullahGeecheeWEBE, @GullahGeechee on IG and Twitter, @GullahGeecheeNation on TikTok and releases of new programming on http://www.GullahGeechee.tv and Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio with live in person events.
Tenk GAWD fa de Wilderness!
“How did you feel hen you come out the wilderness?”
The response to this call in the spiritual circles of the Gullah/Geechee Nation could be “singing,” “clapping” “shouting” or “running.” Unfortunately, the world beyond our boarders has literally taken to the latter response as the wildfires increase due to tremendous drought brought on by climate change and then the irresponsibility of human beings which often includes how they threw a lit cigarette or firecracker into an extremely dry area which led to the forest fires that end up burning thousands of acres of land and hundreds of edifices that were built in the areas where the fires spread to. Some fires are caused naturally when lightning strikes and the wildness ignites. Controlled burns are used by forest management professionals to emulate this and to maintain certain vegetation while clearing others annually in order to create a fire break to prevent the spread of fires to areas where humans are. The question becomes “Where are the humans?’ Where are people learning to care for the earth so that the earth will continue to care for us?
Gullah/Geechee & the EPA: Cultural Collaboration & Environmental Restoration
St. Helena Island is one of the many Sea Islands of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and is home to numerous sacred and historical sites that the community wants to protect from sea level rise. The health of the environment is critical given that Gullah/Geechee culture is inextricably tied to the land. Therefore, the Gullah/Geechee Nation’s leaders and the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition are encouraging people to come out and be a part of the workshop. They look forward to owners of properties that have such tanks attending so that they can help them get the tanks removed at no cost via this collaboration. In order to obtain more information or to register in advance, email GullGeeCo@aol.com.
Join Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and Other Faith Leaders for the “Faith Communities & Climate Resilience Summit”
Join Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and other faith leaders for an evening of discussion and workshops on building climate resilience and restoring our communities to places of safety, justice, and prosperity. Learn how faith communities, academics, and government officials from across the U.S. are finding new and creative solutions to climate challenges.
Gullah/Geechees Defeat Bay Point Destructioneer!
“The decision to uphold the Beaufort Board of Zoning Appeals’ original decision to deny the building of an exclusive luxury resort on Bay Point is an outstanding way to conclude not only Oceans Month, but to also conclude a month that has been filled with celebrations of freedom for us in the Gullah/Geechee Nation,” said Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. “We have continued to fight for our sacred ancestral lands and the waters that surround us because these are the places that have allowed our families to be self-sufficient for generations and we want these places to remain safe and healthy for future generations to do the same.”