
The Lowcountry Story of Rice
By Luana M. Graves Sellars Enslaved women on a rice barge in Georgetown, SC Any story that tells of the rich history of the Lowcountry must include the Gullah Geechee


By Luana M. Graves Sellars Enslaved women on a rice barge in Georgetown, SC Any story that tells of the rich history of the Lowcountry must include the Gullah Geechee

Being around Mother Emily Meggett is just like being at home, even though she has been honored by the City of Charleston, on countless TV interviews on CBS and other major mediums, but, through it all, she is just as gracious and generous with her time as any great grandmother would be.

Joining the church, at one time, was an ancestral African tradition called seeking.
The practice was based in the thought that since God and the ancestors communicated through dreams, the interpretation of the dream, represented achieving spirituality.

Georgetown County is full of an incredibly rich Gullah Geechee history and cultural attractions that I was very excited about exploring to fill in the gaps to my story.

This trip, however, unexpectedly and drastically has changed my perspective completely. So, imagine my mind blowing moment that I discovered that one of the most treasured aspects of the cities that I have enjoyed all of my life, had been quietly telling me the story behind its every foundations; of its development; its origins in being a water front port, and in the case of Savannah and Charleston, its clearly defined roll in the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.

Remnants of captivity aren’t hard to find. One thing that the Atlantic Slave Trade demonstrated was that it was founded on economics and strategic captures. The enslaved were targeted and captured because they were highly skilled. Whether they were Mende rice farmers for the Lowcountry along the sea islands, who could engineer the intricate trunks that diked the waters or Ashanti builders for Savannah that knew construction, iron work or brick making, reminders of their incredible talents are not hard to find.

Yes, my perspectives on a lot of things have changed. How I see the world and my experiences within it are forever going to be different. As they should be. To see and understand what people have gone through, over time, enslaved or otherwise is part of the human experience. No one should walk away unchanged.

By Luana M. Graves Sellars Christmas is a world-wide tradition, yet in the Gullah community, the holiday had year-long significance. The Christian belief and traditional focus of Christmas being founded

comfort food, it’s easy to do and is an impressive experience. Chef David is a Native Islander whose family roots come from one of the oldest families on the island, dating back over 185 years. Raised by his great-grandmother in Spanish Wells, she wanted to make sure that he would be prepared to take care of himself after she passed on. She gave him all of the skills that he needed; from growing his own vegetables to canning, especially how to cook. Looking back to his childhood, his favorite time was eating at his great-grandmother’s table. “Cooking takes me back to my upbringing and the love that was put into her food,” he says.

The true mark of kindness and humility is found in someone who doesn’t even recognize the impact that they have on the people around them. That’s how Betty Days has always lived her life. Raised in the Gullah culture as part of a community that when one has, all has, for Betty, the act of doing for one another just comes naturally.