Tag Archives: SC
Jayn we fa Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day 2023!
Jayn we fa de annual reunion of de Gullah/Geechee Famlee pun historic St. Helena Island, SC een de Gullah/Geechee Nation! E gwine be a time!
Biden Administration Supports Resilience in the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation who was an Expert Commissioner on the inaugural Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission and who served as the General Management Plan Chair will be engaged in several of the projects that will be funded. She stated: “Tenk GAWD fa disya! We land da we famlee and disya gwine keep we coast ya fa de Gullah/Geechee famlee stay ya. We binya and ain gwine nowhey! I have personally been focused on engaging with numerous divisions of the US government and with various sustainability, adaptation and resilience partners for decades in order to have them assist us in making the Sea Islands more resilient especially in the face of climate change. Therefore, I am looking forward to engaging in the numerous projects that NOAA will be funding along our shoreline especially the ‘Gullah/Geechee CREATE Debris Removal Project’ that we will work on with South Carolina Sea Grant which has been a part of the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank since its inception. I’ve worked on living shorelines with SCORE (South Carolina Oyster Restoration & Enhancement) for decades. However, the Gullah/Geechee have truly scored this time! Tenk GAWD!”
Celebrating St. Helena De Gullah/Geechee Epicenter
Interestingly enough, I never drew the connection between helping write and establish the Cultural Protection Overlay District law and the fact that it took place the same year that I made world history by taking the human rights of my people before the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland until I just typed out the year. I did reflect on the fact that on my UN anniversary this year (April 1st), I was leading the “Coastal Cultures Conference” and sitting amongst national leaders focused on assisting with protecting the rich environment of St. Helena Island and helping the island to be even more resilient. The Gullah/Geechee Nation Sustainability Plan calls for us to ensure that the mission of the Gullah/Geechee Nation is adhered to and that we protect our people by enhancing their quality of life. We can only do this by protecting and improving the land and water quality and lessening the stress of them having to fight to keep protecting themselves and their homeland. Yet, as our ancestors did, we find ourselves on a battlefield once again protecting our rights as was done during the US Civil War, the Jim Crow Era and the Civil Rights Movement. I am proud to be in the number leading the human rights movement!
Protecting St. Helena Island’s Gullah/Geechee Serenity by Queen Quet
With the coming of this destructionment there is not only environmental degradation, but higher land taxes and cultural degradation and erasure. I went before the world in 1999 to sound the alarm about this attempted genocide of native Gullah/Geechees and I have not stopped going to the world to keep them aware of our on-going need for their support to protect our cultural heritage and continue our cultural traditions in our homeland. I knew that my living was not in vain and that people had heard and continue to hear us when I saw the outpouring of the crowd that were Gullah/Geechee and non-Gullah/Geechee that showed up at at the Protect St. Helena Rally to help us fight to keep the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay District zoning law in place and to strengthen it so that it will continue to exist for centuries to come as will Gullah/Geechee culture.
Gullah/Geechee Mobilization and Celebration for Gullah/Geechee Volunteer Month 2023
Gullah/Geechee Volunteer Month 2023 affords the opportunity for people to stand up with the Gullah/Geechee in protecting their land and continuing their culture.
The Fight for Black and Gullah/Geechee Freedom
I heard myself with throngs of ancestors singing “Fight on just a little while longer! Pray on just a little while longer! Hold on just a little while longer!” I rested in that moment knowing that the ancestors were tapping their children’s children’s children on the shoulders (and some in the head) awakening them to join in the fight. To take a stand for Gullah/Geechee land! WE BINYA and ain’t gwine nowhey!
Gullah/Geechee Diasporic Diamonds Black History Celebration
Jayn we pun historic St. Helena Island, SC een de Gullah/Geechee Nation fa a spirit liftin journey een ta de storee and livin legacy of de Gullah/Geechee. Yeddi how disya cunneck ta de African Diaspora tru food, music and Black history at the historic Brick Baptist Church.
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
Girlfriends are Mahogany Blessings to the Gullah/Geechee Nation
As my appreciation for mahogany grew, I never thought that it would cause me to truly find its meaning amongst the trees in the Gullah/Geechee Nation as I sat in a circle of women that would strengthen one another as the ancestors encircled us in GODly energy that protected us. Mahogany was what brought us together to honor the healing energy that enters the souls of those that are truly open to it as they traverse Sea Island soil with those of us whose roots are inextricably tied to this land. That healing energy brought about love, laughter, clarity and “Girlfriendship.”
Governor of South Carolina Proclaims Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week Statewide
Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina has joined the massive number of coastal elected officials from North Carolina to Northeastern Florida that have proclaimed “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.” SC Representative Shedron Williams proclaimed the celebration in his district in previous years. However, the Governor’s proclamation now makes this a statewide celebration. South Carolina is the first state to join the numerous coastal counties and townships that have proclaimed this celebration within their jurisdictions over the past decade.