By Demetrius Dillard
The appropriation of African and/or Black American cultural traditions dates back hundreds of years and seems to have become customary.
The uniqueness of the Gullah Geechee people are essentially unparalleled. This special group of African Americans are direct descendants of enslaved Africans who were able to retain many of their distinct indigenous African traditions.
Though the Gullah Geechee reside on their own property along isolated coastal plots of land and barrier islands in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, it is becoming more evident that they are enduring the same hardship that Blacks in urban America are facing – particularly in Hilton Head, S.C.
What was once home to a thriving, decent-sized Gullah community has become a hot spot for out-of-town developers. Over the past several years, Gullah Geechee land has been seized and turned into property for resorts, golf courses and high-priced residential communities.
Now, Hilton Head Island reigns one of the top tourist attractions in the state, while Gullah communities continue to suffer from different forms of gentrification as Blacks in the inner cities of Washington, D.C., New York, Oakland, Boston, etc., have confronted over the past few decades.
Along with gentrification, cultural appropriation is another growing topic of concern in reference to Gullah Geechee individuals. History has shown that countless White Americans are infatuated with Black culture – from the dialect, to fashion, to music and more – but could not care less about the well-being and advancement of Black people in America. This is considered an ‘ancient’ global phenomenon by some cultural critics and scholars.
Likewise with Gullah Geechee culture, which is actually largely responsible for many of the customs prevalent in modern Black American culture. Gullah Geechee is a nation, a language, arts and crafts, food and music. According to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, it is the only distinctly African creole language in the U.S. and has influenced traditional Southern vocabulary and speech patterns.
Cultural appropriation is manifested most clearly and commonly through music. Practically every genre of music was created by Black people. Ray Charles was even quoted saying Elvis Presley stole his moves, style and supposed “musical genius” from Black artists.
Of course, hip-hop has been subject to cultural appropriation for more than three decades, dating back to the days of the Beastie Boys, Vanilla Ice and MC Serch. Over the years, matters have gotten worse – to the point where White musical artists can mimic Black creativity and get credited for it nonetheless.
The emergence of prevalent musical genres of the mid-to-late 20th century would not have been possible without the storied Gullah Geechee musical traditions that made it such a distinctive culture. While mainstream American culture is an amalgamation of numerous world customs and traditions it is important to note that it is also a spinoff of Gullah Geechee culture.
“Deeply rooted in music traditions brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans, their music evolved out of the conditions of slavery that characterized their lives,” says a Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission webpage.
“The influence and evolution of musical forms that arose out of Gullah music can be heard in many musical genres such as spirituals and gospel music, ragtime, rhythm and blues, soul, hip hop and jazz.”
Marquetta Goodwine, commonly known as Queen Quet, is chieftess of the Gullah Geechee nation and a respected author and scholar. She and many other like-minded individuals are committed to preserving the land, legacy and culture of the Gullah people.
There is a beer company and other establishments trying to use the term “Gullah Geechee” name to use for their own capital gain and interest, she said, highlighting one of the latest cases of appropriation. Numerous businesses in Charleston, S.C., have used “Gullah” and “Geechee” in many of their brand marketing campaigns – from eateries to apparel companies.
Accordingly, the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce (GGCOC) released a statement about a year and a half ago addressing the cultural appropriation of the Gullah Geechee community and called for direct action.
“We call for the immediate end of cultural appropriation of the Gullah Geechee language, food and cooking traditions, worship experience and artistic expressions for the financial gain of those who cannot or are unwilling to trace lineage to the enslaved, Black persons who built this country through their blood, sweat and tears of their free labor in the Sea Islands and coastal, inland areas of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia and those forced to migrate from the above listed geographic areas to seek better economic opportunity,” says the statement made by GGCOC founder and president Marilyn Hemingway.
“In 2020, it is a travesty that appropriation of the terms ‘Gullah’ and ‘Geechee’ continues and that fair, financial compensation or representation has not been given to those who provided caregiving, housekeeping, cooking and other assorted service duties in many households and businesses throughout the recognized geographic footprint of the Gullah Geechee community. Our labors and traditions continue to be financially exploited and the check is due.”
