Sea
Islands
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For
generations the Johns Island people were relatively isolated
from mainstream America. The low, flat island, covered
with tidal creeks and marshes, farmland, and forests of
oaks draped with gray Spanish moss, was accessible only
by boat until the early part of the 20th century, when
bridges and causeways connecting it with the mainland
were built. Cut off from the mainland, these descendants
of cotton plantation slaves retained many aspects of the
old Afro-American culture: a regional dialect, Gullah,
still marked by distinctly African and Caribbean traits. |
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These
traits include a large body of folktales, cures, and
supernatural beliefs; and a folk version of Christianity
with a "shouting" style of singing old sprirituals
and hymns and a local "praise house" form
of worship.
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Benjamin Bligen, 1964
Photographer: Robert Yellin
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Benjamin Bligen, 1964
Photographer: Robert Yellin
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At
the same time, island residents were striving to move
into the future, challenging things that were keeping
them from attaining all their rights.
We
made our home on Johns Island from 1963 to 1965 and
have returned often since.
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Sea
Islands: Page 1 of 4 |
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