Lowcountry Gullah Lowcountry Gullah Lowcountry Gullah Preserving the Culture. Protecting the Land.

First Families of Hilton Head | The Lawyers

July 27, 2020

The Lawyers, like most families on Hilton Head depended on the land as well as the surrounding waters to sustain them, but for generations, they chose to make fishing the family business. This included Ned’s sons, Edward Jr. and Jack Lawyer, and all of his grandsons after him, including Arthur Lawyer Sr. However, even though an existence surrounded by water brought them life and joy, it brought tragedy and loss as well.

What Does the Gullah Language Sound Like?

June 29, 2020

Gullah Geechee is a rich culture with its own language. The language has been around for hundreds of years and continues to be spoken today. The language is a combination of a variety of African words from various countries as well as English.

Juneteenth | The Birth of Freedom

June 12, 2020

June 19, 1865, was a day that not only changed the lives of tens of thousands of slaves in the United States, it also marked the change of our country’s history. Slavery was abolished on January 1, 1863, by President Lincoln’s Executive Order known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Even though there was no legal right or justification for slavery to continue after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, many slave owners continued the practice.

First Familes of Hilton Head | The Stewarts

June 12, 2020

For the Stewarts, and most of the male Native Islanders, survival meant living off the bounty of the land and sea. Developing the skills needed to fish and navigate the waters was how they were able to put food on the table, and earn a living to support the family. The Stewart family was different, because however, and one of Charles’ sons, Arthur Stewart, turned fishing the family business that served the needs of the community, and his wife, Isabel worked alongside him as a deckhand. This was unusual because, in those days, most native islander women were not taught to swim or fish.

Mary Green | Shaping Gullah Futures

May 10, 2020

Born into the Gullah culture on Hilton Head during a time “when life was beautiful,” Mary Green was raised to believe that “everyone was your mother. As children, we knew that any adult in the community could discipline us if we did something wrong, just like our parents could. People were wonderful to each other on the island, we always took care of each other.”

Mary Ford | “The Rain Lady”

May 9, 2020

Known affectionately as the “Rain Lady,” Mary Ford was one of the best-known voices on the island; her voice was soul-piercing, and it lifted and carried her listeners anywhere she chose to take them. With or without musical instruments as backup, for over 60 years, Mary had been belting out her earthy alto tones with heartfelt joy while she gave her community the beautiful gift of music.

Mother Rivers | An Island Treasure

May 9, 2020

Born in 1918, Mother Ethel Rivers is recognized as the oldest living Gullah, and has the distinction of being the only living former resident of Hilton Head Island’s historic Mitchelville. She is the keeper of the native islanders’ history, and she is revered by all who know her.

Preserving Historic Gullah Cemeteries

April 8, 2020

Hilton Head’s Gullah community dates back over 150 years, yet island-wide, there are only a few visible remnants from the past that remain today. As the Gullah community continues to strive for the preservation of their land and culture, the effort to keep the pride and memories of their ancestors alive with reverence, while maintaining their historic island cemeteries is a daily challenge.

Growing Up Gullah Golfers

March 23, 2020

One of the perks that growing up on an island that was designed with golfing as its focus is, that eventually you’ll pick up the game. That’s what happened to a group of the island’s Gullah children; growing up being surrounded by golf courses, they were inspired to get into the game. And play they do. But that’s getting ahead of the story.

Slavery in the Lowcountry | By the Numbers

February 21, 2020

As a result, close to 80% of American Blacks who are descendants of slaves can trace their lineage back to the Gullah Geechee Corridor with the majority of them coming from South Carolina. At one point, the majority of South Carolina’s population consisted mostly of African slaves, with the highest concentrations in the plantation areas of the Lowcountry. By the 1860 census, the population was 703,620, with roughly 57% or 402,000 classified as slaves.

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