Tag Archives: Gullah/Geechee TV
Celebrating the Earth and History in the Gullah/Geechee Nation for #NationalParkWeek
Funds don’t automatically get allocated to the NPS sites nor is it guaranteed that each site will get the full budget that it needs. It takes the support of the community to insure that the tax dollars are directed to these spaces and not cut from federal budgets. Attendance is a major factor in the reporting that part staff does when seeking financial support to sustain national parks.
Sustaining a Nation by Queen Quet @GullahGeechee
When I started out doing this work over almost 4 decades ago, no one else used the term “Gullah/Geechee” and now it is a hashtag unto itself. I was led to put the two words together in order to unify my people who had been separated by those that truly sought to destroy our spirits and exploit our abilities in the process. The fortunate reality is that there are people around the world that now know of the existence of #GullahGeechee history, heritage, and culture. However, the unfortunate thing is that due to the saturation of the entertainment and tourist markets with storytelling and misleading representations via museums, replicated sites, non-Gullah/Geechee operated events, tourism agencies, and now even museums that seek to exploit grant money, the work that the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition and the leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation are doing has become that much more difficult.
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.
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.
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.
Kwanzaa and De Gullah/Geechee
Tune in to learn more about Kwanzaa via Gullah/Geechee TV as Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation takes us on a historical journey of the celebration at UNC!
De Gullah/Geechee Foundation of America
Many people only look to the Gullah/Geechee Nation to hear storytelling and music or to seek out a great plate of food. However, when they arrive on the soil of the Sea Islands and Lowcountry between Jacksonville, NC and Jacksonville, FL they are now walking on the foundations of America that is held together by the blood, sweat, and tears of the Africans from Angola, Ivory Coast, Burkina-Faso, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Togo, Benin, Gabon, Congo, and Zaire as well as some from Madagascar and Mozambique.
Chatham County Proclaims Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week
The Chatham County Commissioners presented Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) with a Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week proclamation during a live telecast of their council meeting.
“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 TV & Movie Club Launches with “Reconstruction: The Second Civil War”
The “Gullah/Geechee TV & Movie Club” will begin on Thursday, March 23rd at 6 pm with Part 1 of the documentary, “Reconstruction: The Second Civil War.” Part 2 will be shown on April 27th. Both parts will be introduced by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) who appeared in and consulted for the documentary which aired on PBS when it was first released.