These Islands Were Home to Some of the Most Preserved Connections to African Culture

BY:

Rachel

| August 23, 2022

Credit: Nuestro Stories

The Gullah/Geechee Historic Corridor extends from as far south as Jacksonville, Florida, and as far north as Wilmington, North Carolina. The area, which is home to 80 barrier islands and about 30 miles inland, was originally inhabited by the Gullah people of the Carolinas, and the Geechee people of Georgia and Florida. Both are groups who were direct descendants of many of the enslaved people who were forced to this land against their will from West and Central Africa. With the region considerably isolated, the traits of the tribes – including the linguistics, arts, and general structure of their societies – have remained, for the most part, intact.

Though the Spanish made their way to the area in the 16th century, the isolation of the region made the Gullah/Geechee territory more of a stop along the way rather than a place to lay their roots. Thus, leaving the people, and their culture, mostly intact over the decades. In fact, when the 13th amendment officially outlawed slavery in the United States, the Gullah/Geechee were already so isolated – and their traditional ways already so rooted – that most of the people remained in the region once they were free. It is because of their isolation and proximity to their community that many who identify as Gullah/Geechee have been able to retain a strong connection to their roots.

The Gullah people used isolation to their advantage

The Gullah/Geechee remained generally untouched by the outside world up until the 1950s. Before then, the islands could only be reached by boat, but when the first bridges began to be built, the communities began to be overtaken. Having resisted colonization for hundreds of years longer than most in the Americas, the Gullah/Geechee were culturally infiltrated and forced out of their homes by developers.

Now, the Gullah/Geechee corridor is managed by a federal commission made up of local representatives who collaborate with community partners, grassroots organizations, and the National Park Service in order to attempt to preserve whatever they can of the area.

Plan your visit

The Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society in Georgia provides boat tours that focus on the Gullah/Geechee language, culture, stories, and music.
The Geechee Kunda Museum in Riceboro, GA offers exhibits, galleries, classes, and various events about the Geechee culture, and has a family research center on-site for those looking for familial connections to the region.