1. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
2016 Georgia Bike Summit
Jekyll Island, GA
October 21, 2016
Presentation by
J. Herman Blake, PhD
Executive Director

2. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Dedication
Clementa Pickney Susan Jackson Sharonda Coleman Tywanza Sanders Cynthia Hurd
Daniel Simmons Myra Thompson Depayne Ethel Lance
Middleton-Doctor
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

3. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Angel Oak Johns Island, SC
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

4. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
The Corridor
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

5. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Sea Island Research Project
J. Herman Blake, PhD
1967 – 1985
South Carolina
Beaufort/Charleston Counties
10 Islands
Oral Interviews
Participant Observation
Immersion in community
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

6. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Crucible of Gullah Culture
Slavery—
Coastal SC Task System
Isolation/separation of Sea Islands
Cape Fear, NC to St. Johns, FL
Illegal importation of slaves directly from Africa until 1858
Jekyll Island, SC - The Wanderer
Black/White Ratio (State, Sea Islands)
Century of Oppression ( )
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

7. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Direct descendants of enslaved Africans
Creators of a unique and distinctive culture
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

8. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Septima Clark
Myles Horton
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

9. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Population by Color—US Census—1870
Hilton Head, Johns, St. Helena Islands
White Black Total
Hilton Head Island
Johns Island
St. Helena
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

10. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Population by Color (%)-US Census
Beaufort, Charleston, Georgetown Counties
1870
1880
1900
White
Black
Beaufort Cy
15.4%
84.5%
8.1%
91.9%
9.4%
90.5%
Charleston Cy
31.7%
68.2%
30.1%
69.9%
31.4%
68.5%
Georgetown Cy
17.2%
82.8%
17.7%
82.3%
23.4%
76.6%
1920
1940
1950
21.5%
78.4%
33.3%
67.1%
42.5%
57.5%
40.7%
59.2%
50.7%
49.2%
58.5%
41.4%
33.4%
65.2%
41.7%
58.3%
46.9%
53.1%
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

11. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Gullah Roots
Gullah Geechee Language
Family/Community/Society
Spirituality/Religiosity
Education
Political Involvement/Resistance
Gender Equity
Independence/Entrepreneurialism
Land and Waters
Community-based Conflict Resolution/Reconciliation
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

12. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
The Gullah Bible
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

13. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

14. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
The Vision
“An environment that celebrates the legacy and continuing contributions of Gullah Geechee people to our American heritage”.
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission Management Plan,
page 22.
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

15. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Gullah Geechee Bike Tour, July 2015
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

16. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Gullah Geechee Bike Tour, July 2015
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

17. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
The future
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

18. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
“Fear not, little flock; For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32
Gullah Translation:
“A de shephud, an oona me leetle flock.  Oona ain a whole heap, bot mus dohn fret.  Cause God oona Fada, e glad fa mek oona rule wid esef”
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw

19. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
Acknowledgements
Ruth Wyse
Sharon Scott
GGCHCC J. Herman Blake, 10/21/ rgw