In Touch With the Gullah and Geechee Culture Identities: Part I

By Betty Miller Buttram
FWIS Contributing Writer

The rice growing region in West Africa got the attention of the Europeans who had plantations on the various Sea Islands off the coastal southeastern shores of South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida. The owners of these plantations had discovered somewhere around the 1700s that rice growing on these islands would be profitable and make them a fortune; but they did not have the labor and the right skills to grow this grain. The slave traders brought back the word that there were Africans who were experts in rice growing off the coastal countries of West Africa. With the need for this grain back in the coastal south of the United States, the slave traders concentrated on capturing only Africans from the various regions of West and Central Africa. They were brought to the slave markets in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia and sold to the plantation owners on these isolated, hot, and humid Sea Islands. The slaves brought with them a rich cultural heritage, and they found common ground in their various languages or dialects. What evolved was a pidgin English language which was a speech used for communication between them and became the native language in their Gullah and Geechee communities.

The name “Gullah” refers to the descendants of enslaved ancestors who lived and worked on the Sea Islands off South Carolina and Georgia. They came to these islands speaking various West African languages with English, a creole language. They had a distinct grammar structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation that set them apart from standard English. The islands were so isolated, but the Gullah people preserved much of their cultural traditions in storytelling, basket weaving and spiritual practices. Their spirituality blended elements of Christianity with African religious beliefs, such as the practice of “root work” and “hoodoo.” They had a strong sense of community and family. The Gullah food reflects the taste of African, European, and Native American dishes. Some of the Gullah Cuisine includes Gullah Red Rice (a rice dish made with tomatoes, bacon, and spices); Shrimp & Grits; and Okra Soup (okra, tomatoes and various meats like smoked turkey or sausage). Gullah music is deeply rooted in the call and response traditions of West Africa, i.e., shout out and praise house music. Their artistic abilities range from basket weaving, quilting, sweetgrass basket making, and storytelling.

The “Geechee” were descendants of ancestors who lived and worked on the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia and northeastern Florida. While sharing some similarities with the Gullah people, the Geechee people were influenced by different African language groups and regional dialects. They also had distinct variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. They preserved many of their cultural traditions through music, dance, and oral histories. Their storytelling was of African folklore and mythology. Their spiritual practices, while influenced by Christianity, also included elements of African religious beliefs and rituals. Their cuisine shared similarities with Gullah but also had regional influences. A delicacy often enjoyed were fried or stewed frog legs. They enjoyed a rich and flavorful stew featuring blue crab meat and with a variety of vegetables. A creamy and comforting soup, named Peanut Soup, was made with peanuts, vegetables, and smoked meat. Geechee music has been heavily influenced by the blues and gospel traditions with a unique blending of African rhythms and melodies. Their art includes woodcarving, pottery, and textile arts incorporating symbolic motifs and designs.

The plantation owners would leave their homes on the Sea Islands in March to go to the mainland and return to their homes by the end of summer, leaving a few overseers to manage their properties and the slaves. It was too hot and humid for them, but the slaves were accustomed to such weather. The Civil War in April 1861 sent all the plantation owners running for their lives to the mainland, abandoning their property and slaves. The Union soldiers captured the islands, and the slaves tasted freedom for the first time and stayed on the islands and tended to the land. When the South lost the war, the former plantation owners came back to the islands to reclaim their property, but the slaves had been given claim to their properties by the government.

The Gullah and Geechee cultural identities have survived since the 1700s. They have endured challenges throughout the growth of America from the legacy of slavery, racial discrimination, and now, the threats of urbanization and environmental changes. They are determined to maintain their unique identities. Their rich tradition of languages, food and art should not fade away because the land they still occupy is being threatened by the developers. This is their contribution to American history which should not be forgotten by not speaking about it or not reading about it.

Part II of this article will be about a few of the Sea Islands and the Gullah/Geechee cultural communities today.