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.
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.
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.
One Hilton Head first family, made boxing into the family business; which included the Cohen brothers, all of whom were trained as professional boxers. Recognized as the Southeast Heavy Weight Champion, his career brought him friendships with some of the top boxers in his day.
By Luana M. Graves Sellars The Marsh Tacky is “more than a horse. It represents
Bennett envisions a historic trail that links the following sites and historic assets: “Santa Elena, telling the story of European Exploration and Settlement, Penn Center, telling the Gullah Geechee and Reconstruction stories, Beaufort and Port Royal telling the story of Reconstruction, and Hilton Head telling the stories of the Civil War and Mitchelville.”
By Luana M. Graves Sellars Artwork by Sonja Griffin Evans You might have already heard
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.
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.
What’s different about her depiction of Harriett, is that she doesn’t work from a prepared script or materials. Cora goes on to explain that “history books only talk about Tubman freeing the slaves. I believe that God has placed her spirit in me to be a vessel for her to tell the stories that were never told.” Unlike most character representations, Cora makes the experience more personal by intertwining names of her relatives into her skits. Her passion and personalization is evident in how her audience reacts.
