One of my proudest achievements in the Congress was authoring the legislation that established the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and created a commission to help federal, state, and local authorities manage the Corridor and its assets. It took more than seven years of work to get the bill passed into law, but today the commission is working hard on efforts to preserve and promote the nearly 400-year history of Gullah Geechee culture that is the core purpose of my initiative. The sites, sounds and tastes of Gullah Geechee culture have been slowly vanishing along the coasts of North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Stories and traditions of this fusion of African and European cultures brought long ago to these shores have been slipping away along with the marsh and sand that are disappearing because of the encroachment of developments and the pressures to assimilate into the "modern" world.
PRESS RELEASE
Gullah Geechee Corridor’s Management Plan Approved
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Management Plan
For more information:
“Gullah Geechee Day”
at the S.C. State Fair
Partnership Applications
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (herein referred to as "the Corridor" or "Corridor") was designated by an act of Congress on October 12, 2006 (Public Law 109-338). It was authorized as part of the National Heritage Areas Act of 2006. As a national heritage area, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is not part of the national park system; however, the act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance for the development and implementation of the management plan.
The Corridor was created to:
- Recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by African Americans known as Gullah Geechee who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
- Assist state and local governments and public and private entities in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida in interpreting the story of the Gullah Geechee and preserving Gullah Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music.
- Assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Gullah Geechee for the benefit and education of the public.
A Message from the Commission
Help Us to Let the Light of Gullah Geechee Culture Shine Brightly
By Chairman Ronald Daise
I am thankful to God for the honor to serve as Chairman of this monumental Commission. The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a unique “Corridor within our nation,” that is, within the U.S.A. The Corridor is federally-legislated and is not to be confused with any other grassroots organizations or entities such as the Gullah/Geechee Nation. Our Congressional support as the only National Heritage Area that promotes the living culture of an African American population distinguishes us from all other organizations. We are pleased for the assistance of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Foundation, which has applied for 501(c)3 status and is partnering with us to jointly fulfill the Commission’s goals and mission.
Please review our Management Plan an plan fa hep we nyuse ebryting wa dey een dey mek de Corrida shine bright lokka de sun (and plan to help us use everything that is there within the document to make the Corridor shine bright like the sun)!
