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Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition

From GullGeeCo@aol.com
27 December 1996

Peace Gullah Supporter!

We thank you for your interest in Gullah and Geechee cultures. We have now formed an organization to preserve these cultures and we hope that you will support our endeavors.

Ef oona dey frum de lowcountree an de islant, lookya, e da time fa go bak. Disyah da wey fa cum toggedda wid wi peepol fa hold on ta de tings wa wi peepol lef wi.

If you are someone that is concerned about the preservation of the branch of Africa's tree that has grown in America, this is a way for you to assist in nurturing and protecting that branch.

Please join our coalition today by filling out the enclosed application. Also, contact us to find out details on our current activities and what is to come.

Extended Kinship Appeal, Inc. and the Afrikan Kultural Arts Networkx (AKANx)
Post Office Box 40-0199
Brooklyn NY 11240-0199
(212)439-1026
Gullah-Geechee@InterCHANGE.org
or
GullGeeCo@aol.com

"Mus tek cyear a de root fa heal de tree."

A direct link to the continent of Africa exist in the Sea Islands of the United States. In the islands that are a part of South Carolina, Georgia, and North Florida, Gullah and Geechee culture began during the enslavement of African people in America. It is directly related to the African traditional cultures of the people of Windward or Rice Coast of West Africa. Due to isolation on islands off the coast, the African people there did not have too much contact with people of other races except Native Americans. Thus, they were able to maintain their culture, language, and traditions unlike African people that were living on the "mainland." Gullah and Geechee Sea Islanders transformed these traditions into a new and distinct African American culture.

Due to the peaked interest in the Sea Islands and the Gullah and Geechee cultures from which her family's roots in America stem, Marquetta L. Goodwine originated the annual Gullah Excursionx to Beaufort, South Carolina, home of the Gullah and Geechee people and cultures. Ms. Goodwine has been taking small groups to Beaufort (from which her roots stem) since 1986. She has since expanded her mission on making sure that the history of Gullahs and Geechees is preserved and told accurately. She has put together conferences that have gone as far as Nova Scotia, Canada that focus on the development of Sea Island heritage.

As an outgrowth of the Ourstory & Heritage Conferencex 1996 which focused on "Sea Island Survival," Goodwine is now heading the development of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition" This organization will:

• promote and participate in the preservation of Gullah and Geechee history, heritage, culture, and language.
• work toward Sea Island land re-acquisition and maintenance.
• celebrate Gullah and Geechee cultures through artistic and education means electronically and via "grassroots scholarship."

The "Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Preservation Coalition" was kicked off on Saturday, December 21, 1996 at Leroy Campbell's Spiritual Rhythms Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. The Afrikan Kultural Arts Networkx(AKANx) will host kickoff celebrations in various locations around the United States during 1997. The first was held in New York City since this is where the AKANx main headquarters are located.

Throughout 1997 there will be several events that will be done to finance the coalitions projects which will include a newsletter and the beginning of a Sea Island Preservation Fund. These events include a special Gullah Excursionx with the theme "Return to the Roots" in February for one week which will stop in North Carolina, and go on to visit the Sea Islands of SC and GA. The participants will stay in SC. This trip will be in conjunction with the winter recess for NYC public schools and with the First Annual Gullah Native Islander Celebration on Hilton Head Island.

Membership in the coalition is open to all those that are interested in the mission of uplifting and maintaining this unique part of African and American history and culture. Details on the tours and activities for 1997 and on supporting the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition are available through the Afrikan Kultural Arts Networkx(AKANx).

For more information, contact AKANx at (212) 439-1026 or write P O Box 40-0199 Bklyn NY 11240-0199 or by sending e-mail to GullGeeCo@aol.com or Gullah- Geechee@InterCHANGE.org.

To keep up with our activities via the Internet you can become a subscriber to the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Roots List

Simply send a message that says "Subscribe" in the subject header and a message which states

"Subscribe" <screenname> <real name> to Gullah-Geechee@InfoBro.com

For example: If you are Sue Smith and your e-mail address is Sue@infobro.com, you would type Subscribe Sue@infobro.com Sue Smith

* Send postings on activities, Sea Island developments and history, linguistic developments and information, questions, and comments to:

Gullah-Geechee@InterCHANGE.org

This list is being sponsored by the owners of the server:

Eric Williams, Pres. and Vernard R. Gray of Information Brokers, Inc.
http://infobro.com/Black/InfoBro1.htm
Phone: +1 202.678.5377
http://www.infobro.com/ Fax: +1 301.441.1116
e-mail:eric@infobro.com Info: info@infobro.com

and by

Extended Kinship Appeal, Inc. and the Afrikan Kultural Arts Networkx(AKANx)
Post Office Box 40-0199 Brooklyn NY 11240-0199
(212)439-1026
http://users.aol.com/queenmut/Afrikan_Network.h tml

* You can see information on Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition activities through the AKANx "Gullah Connections" site on the World Wide Web at

http://users.aol.com/queenmut/Gullah_Connections.html