The Gullah Geechee: A Unique History

A corridor covering more than 12,000 square miles between the southern coast of North Carolina and the northern coast of Florida, stretching 30 miles inland and encompassing 79 barrier islands, maintains a significant place in United States history that continues evolving today.

Three hundred years ago, the Gullah Geechee culture began in this area, with its people developing a distinct creole language and cultural patterns that include more African traditions than any other African American populations in America.


This module will focus on the Gullah Geechee culture, its history, its current state, and how to get involved in preservation.
Navigate through the module using the tabs at the top.

College of Coastal Georgia - Gullah Geechee Activity

  1. Question 1: Which of these events occurred in what time period?

    For each event listed below, select the appropriate time period from the dropdown.


  2. Event 1: Tunis Campbell volunteered to fight in the war.

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  3. Event 2: More than 50,000 captive Africans were brought to the United States to work on rice plantations in Georgia and South Carolina, mostly in the Sea Islands region.

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  4. Event 3: The first bridges to the Sea Islands were built.

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  5. Event 4: Wealthy industrialists and businessmen from the North bought the failed rice, sugar cane, and Sea Island Cotton plantations.

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  1. How did you do?

    Examine the chart below to see the appropriate time period for each event:

    Time PeriodEvent
    Pre-Civil WarMore than 50,000 captive Africans were brought to the United States to work on rice plantations in Georgia and South Carolina, mostly in the Sea Islands region.
    Civil WarTunis Campbell volunteered to fight in the war.
    Post-Civil WarWealthy industrialists and businessmen from the North bought the failed rice, sugar cane, and Sea Island Cotton plantations.
    Present DayThe first bridges to the Sea Islands were built.
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  1. Question 2: In what collection of islands did the Gullah Geechee people settle?






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  1. How did you do?

    The Gullah Geechee people settled in the Sea Islands.

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  1. Question 3: How can you get actively involved with Gullah Geechee preservation? Select all that apply.






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  1. How did you do?

    Possible ways for you to become actively involved with Gullah Geechee include:

    • • Become a partner or volunteer with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
    • • Experience authentic tours and workshops through the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition
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  1. Question 4: True or False?
    Boxer Joe Frazier, First Lady Michelle Obama, and singer Darius Rucker are all descendants of the Gullah Geechee.



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  1. How did you do?

    The statement "Boxer Joe Frazier, First Lady Michelle Obama, and singer Darius Rucker all are descendants of the Gullah Geechee" is true!

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  1. Question 5: True or False?
    Those who live on the mainland refer to themselves as Freshwater Geechee, while those on the Sea Islands are Saltwater Geechee.



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  1. How did you do?

    The statement "Those who live on the mainland refer to themselves as Freshwater Geechee, while those on the Sea Islands are Saltwater Geechee" is true!

 



Now that you’ve watched these videos, you know more about well-known descendents of the Gullah Geechee culture and ways to get involved in preservation.

 

Citations

"Heritage Corridor." Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Accessed August 14, 2014. http://www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org/?Itemid=105.

Rosengarten, Dale. "Baskets and Basket Making." In World of a Slave: Encyclopedia of the Material Life of Slaves in the United States, edited by Martha B. Katz-Hyman and Kym S. Rice. Westport: Greenwood, 2010. http://literati.credoreference.com/content/entry/abcwslaveus/baskets_and_basket_making/0.

"Slavery." In World of Criminal Justice, Gale, edited by Shirelle Phelps. Farmington: Gale, 2002. http://literati.credoreference.com/content/entry/worldcrims/slavery/0.