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Gullah Culture in America - by Wilbur Cross (Hardcover)

Gullah Culture in America - by  Wilbur Cross (Hardcover) - 1 of 1
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About this item

Highlights

  • In 1989, 1998, and 2005, fifteen Gullah speakers went to Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa to trace their origins and ancestry.
  • About the Author: Wilbur Cross is the author or co-author of more than 50 books and was an editor at Life for eight years.
  • 288 Pages
  • Social Science, Anthropology

Description



About the Book




In 1989, 1998, and 2005, fifteen Gullah speakers went to Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa to trace their origins and ancestry. Their journey frames this exploration of the extraordinary history of the Gullah culture-characterized by strong African cultural retention and a direct influence on American culture, particularly in the South-described in this fascinating book. Since long before the Revolution, America has had hidden pockets of a bygone African culture with a language of its own, and long endowed with traditions, language, design, medicine, agriculture, fishing, hunting, weaving, and the arts. This book explores the Gullah culture's direct link to Africa, via the sea islands of the American southeast.

The first published evidence of Gullah went almost unrecorded until the 1860s, when missionaries from Philadelphia made their way, even as the Civil War was at its height, to St. Helena Island, South Carolina, to establish a small institution called Penn School to help freed slaves learn how to read and write and make a living in a world of upheaval and distress. There they noticed that most of the islanders spoke a language that was only part English, tempered with expressions and idioms, often spoken in a melodious, euphonic manner, accompanied by distinctive practices in religion, work, dancing, greetings, and the arts. The homogeneity, richness, and consistency of this culture was possible because the sea-islanders were isolated. Even today, there are more than 300,000 Gullah people, many of whom speak little or no English, living in the remoter areas of the sea islands of St. Helena, Edisto, Coosay, Ossabaw, Sapelo, Daufuskie, and Cumberland. Gullah Culture in America explores not only the history of Gullah, but takes the reader behind the scenes of Gullah culture today to show what it's like to grow up, live, and celebrate in this remarkable and uniquely American community.



Book Synopsis



In 1989, 1998, and 2005, fifteen Gullah speakers went to Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa to trace their origins and ancestry. Their journey frames this exploration of the extraordinary history of the Gullah culture-characterized by strong African cultural retention and a direct influence on American culture, particularly in the South-described in this fascinating book. Since long before the Revolution, America has had hidden pockets of a bygone African culture with a language of its own, and long endowed with traditions, language, design, medicine, agriculture, fishing, hunting, weaving, and the arts. This book explores the Gullah culture's direct link to Africa, via the sea islands of the American southeast.

The first published evidence of Gullah went almost unrecorded until the 1860s, when missionaries from Philadelphia made their way, even as the Civil War was at its height, to St. Helena Island, South Carolina, to establish a small institution called Penn School to help freed slaves learn how to read and write and make a living in a world of upheaval and distress. There they noticed that most of the islanders spoke a language that was only part English, tempered with expressions and idioms, often spoken in a melodious, euphonic manner, accompanied by distinctive practices in religion, work, dancing, greetings, and the arts. The homogeneity, richness, and consistency of this culture was possible because the sea-islanders were isolated. Even today, there are more than 300,000 Gullah people, many of whom speak little or no English, living in the remoter areas of the sea islands of St. Helena, Edisto, Coosay, Ossabaw, Sapelo, Daufuskie, and Cumberland. Gullah Culture in America explores not only the history of Gullah, but takes the reader behind the scenes of Gullah culture today to show what it's like to grow up, live, and celebrate in this remarkable and uniquely American community.



Review Quotes




"Gullah culture's significance in American studies is its retention of Africanisms that defied the pattern of culture loss by enslaved Africans. Cross's approach is more historical than previous ethnographic surveys....a capable synthesis of information with updates on organized efforts to sustain the regional-ethnic culture on the Sea Islands and beyond. Shaded sidebars draw attention to the artistic legacy in story and song that warrants aesthetic appreciation....compliments are due the book for being accessible to general readers and panoramic in coverage of verbal traditions....Recommended. General, undergraduate, and regional libraries." --Choice



About the Author



Wilbur Cross is the author or co-author of more than 50 books and was an editor at Life for eight years.
Dimensions (Overall): 9.3 Inches (H) x 6.47 Inches (W) x 1.06 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.31 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 288
Genre: Social Science
Sub-Genre: Anthropology
Publisher: Praeger
Theme: Cultural & Social
Format: Hardcover
Author: Wilbur Cross
Language: English
Street Date: December 30, 2007
TCIN: 92892586
UPC: 9780275994501
Item Number (DPCI): 247-14-6733
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.06 inches length x 6.47 inches width x 9.3 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.31 pounds
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