Gullah Geechee culture, born out of a history of enslavement and oppression, has become a historically unique culture that spans from the east coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina down to Florida.
Downtown Conway honored Gullah Geechee culture during the annual Gullah Geechee Community Day on Feb. 22, which allows attendees to experience the art, language and history of the Gullah culture. The day-long event consisted of vendor and artisan markets, educational lectures, musical performances and craft workshops throughout Downtown Conway.
Director of the Horry County Museum Walter Hill is one of the organizing partners of Gullah Geechee Community Day. He is passionate about spreading the knowledge of Gullah Geechee culture to Horry County residents. However, the culture is threatened as Horry County, the largest county in South Carolina in terms of area, develops into one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S.
“What you hope is that as new communities come in, they recognize the traditionally Gullah Geechee based communities there,” Hill said. “Instead of trying to smother them out, try to embrace that and elevate that.”
Alli Crandell, director of the Athenaeum Press and digital initiatives, first brought representation of Gullah Geechee culture to the Coastal Carolina University community in 2013. The Athenaeum Press began the conversation with a multimedia project concerning Gullah spirituals called “Gullah: The Voice of an Island.”
The Athenaeum Press became an operational partner with The Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies. After the first Gullah Geechee Community Day, Crandell reached out to organizations across Conway with hopes of bringing the conference to a larger community.
However, attendance has been slowly decreasing over the years, according to Hillary Howard, executive director of Conway Downtown Alive and organizing partner of Gullah Geechee Community Day. Howard, who holds the event close to her heart, continues to spread awareness about the Gullah community with optimism.
“I love it, and I feel like it’s put together so well. It makes it so accessible for folks and it’s one of those things that you get to come and learn,” Howard said. “You don’t even realize how much you’re learning because you’re enjoying it so much,” Howard said.
Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Joyner Institute Ashlyn Pope is of Gullah descent herself.
Collaborating with Conway community members has been a receptive experience.
“There’s something really interesting about getting into a space where people may not know what’s coming, but they’re happy to participate and learn about something different,” Pope said. “I think that’s incredible.”
Pope said it’s necessary to continue educating communities about Gullah Geechee culture, especially where diversity is continually threatened.
“It really is an opportunity in this climate to kind of make sure that people are seen and heard and valued more than it is trying to erase something,” Pope said. “Because it should be honored and that’s the beautiful thing about America, right?”
The first Gullah Geechee Community Day event in 2020 was held in Downtown Conway with 500-600 attendees. Crandell said that first time was special to her to see how interested and excited about the culture.
“To be able to partner with the city in such a meaningful way to celebrate our history was something kind of really special,” Crandell said.
In 2021 the event grew to attract 1,000 attendees.
“I hope that it continues to grow as an annual or bi-annual festival just as a reminder of what we can do, of where we are along the coast– and I think that’s really important,” Crandell said.
Gullah Geechee culture dates to the pre-revolutionization of America. Thousands of slaves were brought to the coast to work in agriculture.
When they were brought to plantations in the Carolinas against their will, they maintained their heritage and culture through language, art, music and religious practices, according to Hill. Gullah Geechee culture originated from a mix of preserved African culture and European influence from their slave owners, resulting in a unique culture that can only be found in America.
“[Gullah Geechee Community Day] has a tremendous amount of value in acknowledging that this community is real. It’s a part of us, and we acknowledge that,” Hill said. “It is part of our past and a part of our future– a part of our temperament. We exist. Gullah people exist along with white people.”
