GullahGeechee

Gullah Geechee refers to a distinctive African American cultural and linguistic heritage along the Atlantic coast of the United States, particularly in the Sea Islands and coastal plain of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida. The term covers the people, language, and traditions that emerged from enslaved Africans who worked on rice plantations from the 17th to 19th centuries and then formed enduring coastal communities.

Geographically, the core area runs from Wilmington, North Carolina, through the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia to parts of northeastern Florida, including historic Sea Islands such as Sapelo, St. Helena, Hilton Head, and Edisto. The Gullah Geechee language, often called Gullah or Geechee Creole, is an English-based creole with West African influences and remains a key element of cultural identity for some speakers today.

Culturally, Gullah Geechee people are known for distinctive crafts such as sweetgrass basket weaving, as well as rice-based cooking, spiritual music, storytelling, and strong kinship networks. Religion, folklore, and social organization have historically emphasized community resilience and intergenerational transmission of knowledge.

In 2006, Congress designated the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor as a National Heritage Area. The corridor, operated by the National Park Service in partnership with local governments, nonprofits, and communities, aims to preserve, study, and interpret the region’s heritage while supporting sustainable development. Ongoing challenges include land loss, economic pressures, and the need to protect language and cultural resources for future generations.