Sometimes, finding ways of connecting to our culture is hard. Of course research and traditions are the easy options that we have, but developing new and varied ways of not only experiencing and even tasting it, but also sharing our culture. Take Carolina Gold Rice for example. It is yet another deeply rooted and significant part of our culture that has taken on more than just space on the plate.

Yep, that's who I am! And PROUD of it! Funny, I get asked alot if I am Gullah and who's behind Lowcountry Gullah. So, here's the story behind the work and why it's become my life's mission and purpose.

The newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery. It may be the most recent addition to the federal calendar, but it's the oldest and longest nationally celebrated holiday in the US. June 19th, otherwise known as Juneteenth or Black independence day. Sadly, the majority of Americans don't know or even recognize the importance of this date to our history. Juneteenth is not just Black History, but an important milestone in American history and the birth of freedom.

The Lowcountry Gullah Podcast has been airing for three years and has more than 100 interviews available, all hosted by Luana Graves Sellars. In this episode, we flipped the script! The interviewer has become the interviewee! Here's the backstory on the creation of Lowcountry Gullah, the motivation behind it and just a little taste of my trip to Africa.

Did you know that one of the first Memorial Day Celebrations began as a Gullah holiday?

We don't usually think about the origins of a lot of the things that we say or do, but for every action, or how we do what we do, there's a time proven reason. Even the sayings that we share on a daily basis, like "it takes a village to raise a child" had to come from somewhere. The use of African Proverbs has become almost second nature to us, even though we don't know of why or where it came from.

Plantations aren't something that we often talk about, especially how their stories are told. So, this isn’t just another plantation story; it’s a vital recounting of truth in a time when misinformation runs rampant. It's important that we continue to highlight the importance of recognizing and preserving the narratives of enslaved people. It's also an important topic and conversation that we need to continue to have if not for future generations, for our ancestors whose blood is still in the soil.

Listen in on a compelling conversation with Dr. Ian Smith as we explore the critical health issues generationally affecting the Black community, the importance of culturally competent medical care, and strategies for empowerment and health advocacy.

When we talk about Gullah culture, it's often about food, religion, sweetgrass baskets and language. The Gullah lived off of the land and sea, which made the being in proximity to the water and utilizing it an incredibly important cultural pillar that supported their daily living, was a source of giving joy and enabled them to survive.

The Gullah Geechee culture is alive and well and full of rich culture, history, and generations of resistance within the Gullah community. Things like storytelling, language, food, and traditions have served as powerful forms of cultural preservation which has prevented erasure. But, what does that even mean? Why are we keeping the culture? How are we sustaining the culture? Not sure? Tap in and find out.