african american history

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.

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.

Sailing from Slavery into History

November 21, 2019

By Luana M. Graves Sellars Artwork by Sonja Griffin Evans You might have already heard

Harriett | The Movie Review – Part Two

November 6, 2019

The new movie, about Harriett Tubman, has been stirred up a lot of conversations about its factual or fictional aspects. In Harriett: The Movie Review – Part 1, I alluded to facts, which I think are relevant to Harriett Tubman’s historical significance as an American heroine that should have been included in the film.

Harriett | The Movie Review – Part One

November 1, 2019

Actress Cynthia Envio brings life and a depth of character that Harriett herself would be proud; with a story to back it, that highlights Harriott’s motivation and development into a natural leader. Envio’s acting is seamless enough to make you believe that you have a birds-eye view into Tubman’s life. Scene by scene, you can clearly follow her growth and utter determination to follow Tubman’s God-given destiny.

First Families of Hilton Head | The Bligens

October 24, 2019

Courage has many faces. Usually, courage is motivated by a steadfast desire to achieve an objective, or it is motivated by fear of failure. Regardless of the motivation, courage tends to emerge at just the right time; at the exact moment when an extraordinary response is needed. For the Bligen’s, time after time and situation after situation, the family faced difficult challenges, and it was their courage and strength that allowed them to survive and prevail.

What is Heirs Property?

October 24, 2019

The problem that exists with heirs property is two-fold. Acreage, in some cases, has been subdivided between family members with the land having been passed down generation to generation without a deed; the practice of which, makes the legal transfer or the division of property nearly impossible under the current laws.

Mother Ethel Rivers

September 20, 2019

It’s not often that you have the opportunity to spend time with a centenarian; it’s a chance to pause and to take notes. Time with her is a chance to peek behind the historic curtain and receive first-hand knowledge and unexpected details from someone’s past. Still active and clear in her memories, Mother Ethel Rivers comes across as if she’s decades younger. It’s only when she starts to share her rich past that you realize how much of a rare island treasure that she is. She, however, doesn’t think so.

The Lowcountry’s Gullah Story Teller

August 1, 2019

Known island-wide as the Hilton Head Storyteller, Louise, who, at 73 years old, passionately and tirelessly breathes life into Gullah stories, while fighting to keep the history and culture of Hilton Head’s native islanders alive. As the curator of the Gullah Museum, Louise dedicates her life to collecting, protecting and preserving Gullah stories and artifacts for future generations.

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