Category Archives: Human Rights
Gullah/Geechee Queen Quet Gwine Back ta de UN
Sea level rise and other climate changes impacts are compounding the work to protect the Sea Island environment. Yet, Queen Quet is committed to this work daily. Queen Quet has successfully worked against offshore oil drilling and seismic gun use in the Atlantic Ocean and is actively engaged with global partners in reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years and the Gullah/Geechee Nation is working to achieve these goals during the International Decade of People of African Descent. With your support, the Gullah/Geechee can insure that we have representation in the major planning and engagement activities to reach these goals and to insure that the Paris Agreement to protect the environment are achieved. So, Tenki Tenki fa hep we send Queen Quet ta de UN one mo ‘gain!
Please contribute to this aspect of the “Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands World Tour” at https://www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-queen-quet-goes-toun
Resolutions, Restitution, and Reparations: 2018 State of the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) celebrated her 18th anniversary as the elected head pun de bodee of the Gullah/Geechee Nation with her annual State of the Gullah/Geechee Nation address on Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio
From Penn School to Penitentiary-The Attempted Imprisoning of a Gullah/Geechee Community
Ironically and Divinely, many of us that were students of St. Helena School who also grew up working at, going to programs and meetings, and fighting for Penn did not fall into the school to prison pipeline that has been the outgrowth of the lowering of the Gullah/Geechee students’ self-esteem and the lack of income that is directed toward the educational institutions on St. Helena. In fact, we are revolted by the site of penitentiaries! So, when an Anglo woman asked me last week, “Why is a fence going around Penn Center for it to look like a jail over there?,” I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. I visualized what she said and then I actually drove by the historic site yesterday and saw how it was now being caged in. I also knew that I was glad to be free and would remain so because I was not going to let anyone imprison me nor my mind because theirs may be!
Penn Center Drives a Stake Through the Heart of the Gullah/Geechee Community
The Gullah/Geechee community and residents of St. Helena Island repeatedly stated that they did NOT want Penn Center gated off from the community and wanted it to remain an open and welcoming public historic area.
Anyone that has learned the history of the displacement of Gullah/Geechee communities are well aware of the fact that gated areas are the primary mechanism used against the community. The gates promote exclusion no matter what reasoning may be provided about them. The native Gullah/Geechee family of St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation has made it clear that fences and gates are in opposition to their culture and their lifestyle. Yet, an institution that their ancestors built is now becoming a gated area.
“Protect: Coastlines, Guns and Women in the Low Country” Focuses on the Gullah/Geechee
“Protect: Coastlines, Guns and Women in the Low Country” is a pilot episode of a series which highlights stories in local communities around issues of sustainability. These features are produced using film, photography and editorials to examine the challenges around meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the U.S. The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, to protect the planet and to ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The Gullah/Geechee Nation is engaged with other nations of the world in insuring that the SDGs are accomplished.
Two Lane Films decided to interview Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) and several of the citizens of Savannah, GA and other areas of coastal Georgia regarding their views on a number of topics related to their land and culture.
Realities of Reconstruction Conference to be held at the Reconstruction Era National Monument
Beaufort County is now the location of the new multi-site Reconstruction Era National Monument. The “Realities of Reconstruction Conference” will engage those interested in learning more about this largely untold story of the initial steps taken into freedom by the formerly enslaved Africans. Interactive sessions and films about the Reconstruction Era and the part that people of African descent played as well as how they suffered due to political and financial setbacks will all be part of the dialogues at the “Realities of Reconstruction Conference.”
Public Hearings and Public Health in the Gullah/Geechee Nation
The Gullah/Geechee Nation is participating in National Public Health Week along with others throughout the United States April 2-8, 2018. “Changing Our Future Together” requires an understanding of the various ways that we can support improving public health. Each day of #NPHW has a different focus ranging from behavioral health and communicable diseases to injury and violence prevention and access to ensuring the right to health care and environmental health. The Gullah/Geechee Nation has placed emphasis on the latter of the categories for the week given that improving and maintaining environmental health especially of the waterways. Water quality, seafood safety and human health are the central focus of the work of the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank. This is a priority because without a healthy Gullah/Geechee Nation environment, the citizens will not be healthy.
Gullah/Geechee Nation Springs into Saturday Celebrations!
Cum jayn de Gullah/Geechee Famlee een GA and SC disya April ebee Satdee! The Gullah/Geechee Nation will be welcoming guests from all over the world this April as they host these annual spring celebrations each Saturday.
19 Year Gullah/Geechee Human Rights Legacy
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation is the elected head-of-state and spokesperson for the Gullah/Geechee. She is a directorate member of the International Human Rights Association for American Minorities (IHRAAM). Since she first went before the United Nations on April 1, 1999, she has also been an active part in numerous UN NGO conferences, the Minority Forum, the Indigenous Peoples Forum, COP 22, and the Oceans Forum. She continues to be a tireless human rights advocate and defender.
Stop the Spaceport on the Gullah/Geechee Coast!
Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ April 30, 2018 ♦ 3 Comments
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition is standing with 100 Miles, Protect Cumberland Island, and many other individuals and groups in opposition to this spaceport being licensed and erected. There are a number of negative environmental impacts that will take place that have not been fully examined nor considered in the environmental impact statement. In addition to that, cultural heritage has been completely left out of consideration as Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) made clear during her statement at the public hearing.
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