Category Archives: Gullah/Geechee Land Ownership & Rights
Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week to be Celebrated Throughout the Coast
“Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” began in 2012 in the City of Charleston, SC. Since then, the celebration has grown to encompass the counties and townships of the Gullah/Geechee Nation in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. This year, the theme of the celebration is “Fa We Ancestas.” The Gullah/Geechee Nation is proud that this week is part of the global activities for the “United Nations International Decade of People of African Descent.”
Celebrate the Gullah/Geechee Living Legacy on Historic St. Helena Island, SC at the Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival
“Fa We Ancestas” is the theme of the 2017 “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™.” This festival began on historic St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation in 2005 and has since traveled to numerous cities of the Gullah/Geechee Nation as well as to the Bahamas. This year’s return to St. Helena Island will be a celebration of the rich living culture of the island and Beaufort County.
The three day celebration August 4-6, 2017 will educate the supporters through a series of cultural heritage activities.
Jayn de Gullah/Geechee Famlee at Historic Skeeta Beach!
Many that made their way to James Island or Folly Beach did not and do not realize that there was a major gathering location adjacent to Sol Legare Island. They tend to breeze right by on their way out to the Atlantic Ocean. In an effort to insure that the world is well aware of the historic area that they are passing by, in 2015 the Mosquito Beach Business Association joined forces with the “Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition” (www.GullahGeechee.net) to host an annual “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at Mosquito Beach” in order to bring awareness to the local and global community about the existence and history of “Mosquito Beach.” Many enjoyed the inaugural event and vowed to support the continued restoration and preservation efforts of this Gullah/Geechee historic beach.
On Saturday, July 29, 2017 beginning at Noon, the third annual “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at Mosquito Beach” will be held at Island Breeze 2225 Mosquito Beach Road Charleston, SC.
Queen Quet & De Gullah/Geechee Nation Standing Strong fa We Ancestas
Queen Quet has been the elected head-of-state and Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) for 17 years as of July 2, 2017. She has been standing up for the rights of Gullah/Geechee people for over three decades. Whenever asked about this, she will let you know that she stands due to her faith and the strength of her ancestors. Thus, she has effectively led a number of endeavors that have led to global recognition of Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage. The annual event that she co-founded to celebrate this rich heritage while also supporting the businesses and institutions of the Gullah/Geechee Nation is the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™” which will be held on her home island-historic St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation August 4-6, 2017.
Hilton Head Island Proclaims Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week 2017!
The Town of Hilton Head Island, SC continues its participation in “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” this year. Mayor Bennett presented Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) with a proclamation to this effect during the June town council meeting which was also broadcasted live.
Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation Stands for the Ocean at the United Nations
The United Nations will bring together heads of states, government officials and other high level delegates, representatives from civil society organizations, the business community, intergovernmental and UN agencies as well as renowned personalities, and other ocean & marine life advocates at the Ocean Conference on 5 to 9 June to spur action to improve the state of the world’s oceans. Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) will be one of the world leaders present at the event.
“Black Beach/White Beach” Brings to the Big Screen the Gullah/Geechee Nation’s “Black Pearl”
Filmmaker Ricky Kelly has put together an outstanding new documentary, “Black Beach/White Beach.” “Black Beach/White Beach” tells the historical journey of the formation of the “Black Pearl” of the Gullah/Geechee Nation during segregation and leads you up to the on-going battle to rebuild the town and its reputation.
The “Black Pearl” is the historic Atlantic Beach Township which is north of Myrtle Beach. Although Atlantic Beach did not receive incorporation from the state of South Carolina until 1966, Gullah/Geechees owned the land on the Atlantic Ocean prior to that and started to use it as a gathering place in 1934. They opened motels, restaurants, and night clubs and by 1936 pleasure boats were anchoring at the township where Black folks could come and enjoy themselves.
Gullah/Geechee Nation Leaders Fight for Environmental Equity
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) is continuing the “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy World Tour” in the Great Plains and the Great Lakes region. On this leg of the tour, the focus is environmental equity. At many locations of the tour, members of the Gullah/Geechee histo-musical presentation troupe, De Gullah Cunneckshun join Queen Quet. However, this month, Gullah/Geechee Nation Minister of Information and Protocol Elder Carlie Towne and Representative Glenda Simmons-Jenkins will be on the journey.
Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation on WURD’s “Information is the Best Medicine”
Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation joins Glenn Ellis this week to discuss some of the social, political, and economic issues that impact the future, following 400 years of survival among the Gullah/Geechee people.
Be sure to tune in, and tell someone who’s health you care about!
Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 9:00am (EST) on 900 WURD.
Streaming live at http://www.900amwurd.com.
De Wata Need We! Protecting the Waters of the Gullah/Geechee Nation’s Coast!
Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ August 15, 2017 ♦ Leave a comment
The Gullah/Geechee Nation also finds itself having to fight against oil exploration, oil drilling, and the use of seismic guns in the Atlantic Ocean once again since the US government is attempting to reopen the coast to this. We have until August 17, 2017 for comments to be entered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in opposition to oil exploration including the use of seismic guns and to oil drilling. We are calling on all of our supporters worldwide to let them know that you stand with the Gullah/Geechee Nation maintaining its cultural heritage on this coast and to that end, you want the Atlantic Coast kept off of the list of locations for oil exploration and drilling to take place. You can go to https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=BOEM-2017-0050-0001 to enter your comments.
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