What is Gullah?
The Gullah people are located on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. They are communities of people who are the descendants of enslaved Africans. Before the Civil War, the Gullah were more autonomous than other American slaves, because many slave owners preferred to move inland as a result of the extreme heat and mosquitos of the swampy Atlantic coastline. After slavery, the Gullah people were able to buy their own land, and they remained relatively isolated since there were few connections to the mainland (bridges weren’t built until the 1950s). The isolation of the Gullah enabled their West African roots to thrive, and they now have a unique culture that is directly linked to West Africa
Gullah Traditions
The Gullah have their own unique blend of crafts, cuisine, and culture. For example, they make sweetgrass baskets, quilt, and knit fishing nets. Folklore, stories and songs have also been handed down over the years. There is a wide-known annual Gullah Festival held in Beaufort, South Carolina in May. This is just one of the events held throughout the year to celebrate Gullah traditions.
Gullah Language
In South Carolina, this group of African-Americans and the language they speak are referred to as Gullah (Gul-luh). In Georgia, they are called Geechee (Gee-chee). Gullah the language was developed among Africans as a way to communicate with people from other tribes and Europeans. It has a unique simplicity in that it is written the way it sounds. For years (until the 1930s), people thought it was poor English. People who speak Gullah sound like people who speak Krio, one of the common languages spoken among the people from Sierra Leone, West Africa.
What are the Gullah people like?
- Direct communicators
- Loud talkers
- Affectionate
- Collectivist – family is extremely important
- Time – who needs it?!
Now...
With the incoming of development on the Gullah islands are fears of assimilation. Younger generations are steadily selling their ancestral lands to development contracters and are encouraging increased tourism. Older members of the Gullah community therefore fear that their traditions and language are becoming endangered.
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