Gullah Geechee Lesson

Who are the Gullah
Geechee?

 Gullah Geechee culture comes from a

mixing of different African cultures and
groups from West and Central Africa who
were brought to the Americas during
the 1600's and 1700's.

 These groups spoke several languages,

holding different religious beliefs that over
time evolved into a unique creole culture.

What is Gullah Geechee?

 Both "Gullah" and "Geechee" were once

used to describe Africa's Angolan tribes,
many of whom were taken and sold as
forced workers.

 Today, they are used in a wide variety of

identities,with people considering
themselves one or the other.

 Ex. Someone in Georgia might think

of themselves "Geechee" while someone in
South Carolina might think of themselves
"Gullah."

 The term "Gullah Geechee" is an

attempt to create a large term for
everyone from this culture.

The Gullah Geechee
Cultural Heritage Corridor

 These are the areas that the Gullah

Geechee were taken to, and live to this
day.

 The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage

Corridor runs from Wilmington, North
Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida.

 The Gullah Geechee were taken and

sold as forced workers on many plantations
throughout the coastal region.

Forming the Gullah Geechee

 The farms that the Gullah Geechee were taken

to were far away from towns and cities.

 This helped to preserve many of the new traditions

that were formed, such as religious, artistic, and
cultural practices.

 However, isolation from the mainland led to land

developers and the tourism industry to take
advantage of them.

This Photo by Unknow n author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

Gullah Geechee Today

The United States government created the Gullah
Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor to preserve the
traditional practices and history of the culture.

Gullah Geechee communities are facing effects of
tourism, both good and bad.

 Some large companies are trying

to buy homeowner's land in places like
Plantersville.

 In places like John's Island, community

members sell sweetgrass baskets on road side
stands during tourist season.