Honoring the Gullah Geechee: A Heritage at Risk
Who Are the Gullah Geechee?
The Gullah Geechee are descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to the coastal regions of the Southeastern United States, primarily in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. They developed a unique culture deeply rooted in African traditions, blending language, cuisine, music, art, and spirituality with their experiences in America.
Their distinctive Creole language, Gullah, and vibrant traditions have been preserved through generations, making the Gullah Geechee one of the most significant and enduring African diasporic cultures in the U.S.
The Gullah Geechee people have a profound connection to the land and waterways, relying on them for farming, fishing, and cultural practices. However, they face growing threats from tourism-driven development and environmental degradation, which endanger their ancestral lands and way of life. Protecting their heritage is essential to safeguarding an irreplaceable part of American history.
A troubling part of American history is repeating itself on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. These islands are home to the Gullah or Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans who worked on local plantations. After the Civil War, many former slaves bought land where their families had lived and farmed for generations. This undeveloped waterfront land has become some of the priciest real estate in the U.S. However, the Gullah are finding that owning this land is more complicated. Local landowners have trouble keeping their family land as resort developers exploit legal loopholes to force court-ordered sales. These actions have sparked a tourism boom, bringing over 2 million visitors each year. Gullah communities are nearly gone, replaced by upscale resorts and gated developments that new residents—golfers, tourists, and mainly white retirees—call “plantations.”
Queen Quet is the first elected Chieftess and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Impact of Coastal Erosion
Coastal erosion is a growing crisis for the Gullah Geechee, whose ancestral lands lie along the fragile shorelines of the Southeastern United States. Rising sea levels, intensified by climate change, wash away valuable land that has sustained their communities for centuries. This erosion threatens homes, farmlands, and burial grounds—critical links to their heritage and identity.
The problem is worsened by unchecked tourism and real estate development, which disrupt natural coastal defenses like marshlands and accelerate land loss. As the land disappears, so do opportunities for the Gullah Geechee to practice traditional farming, fishing, and cultural ceremonies that define their way of life.
Without urgent action, the Gullah Geechee face the loss of not only their land but also the rich cultural history tied to it. Efforts to combat coastal erosion, promote sustainable tourism, and protect their legacy are vital to ensuring their survival and the preservation of this unique American heritage.
"From Whence We Came"
The Gullah Geechee communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida observe a rich tradition known as Watch Night, marking over 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This historic service originally commemorated the liberation of enslaved people across the Low Country and Sea Islands. While still celebrated, its direct connection to emancipation has faded over time, evolving into a broader cultural and spiritual observance within the Gullah Geechee Corridor.