Cultural Management Plan Newsletter #1 February 2009 Telling The World of our Unique Heritage Dear Gullah/Geechee Community members and partners: TM The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a remarkable place with unique traditions, people, and resources. When Congress established the cultural heritage corridor, it also 1214 Middle Street established a 25-member commission, which I chair. Part of the commission’s responsibilities Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 is to develop a management plan for the corridor that will provide guidance and direction 843.881.5516 x12 over the next 10-15 years. In order to develop this plan, we need your help because you, the members of the community, truly understand and appreciate the unique cultural dynamics found within the Gullah/Geechee communities. There will be many ways for you Executive Committee to participate, including responding to newsletters, attending meetings, interacting with Emory S. Campbell websites and speaking directly to the commissioners in your state. Public meetings will be Chairman, South Carolina Eulis A. Willis held in four states. You will be notified of these meetings, their dates, locations, and times Vice Chairman, North Carolina in future correspondence from us. Jeanne C. Cyriaque Secretary, Georgia The first of these public meetings will be held in Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach along Ralph B. Johnson Florida’s First Coast during Black History Month on February 19 and 20, 2009. At that Treasurer, Florida time, the Commission will also hold its first quarterly business meeting, which is open to the public. I cordially invite you to attend any of the public or business meetings. Your Commissioners participation is vital to the success of the development of this plan. Information on these South Carolina meetings is contained in this newsletter. Louise Miller Cohen Ronald Daise Throughout the planning process, commissioners from each state will be contacting Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine and speaking with educators, preservationists, historians, clergy, community advocates, Willie B. Heyward, J.D. grassroots organizations, and government officials to receive input, ideas, and concerns. William Saunders The Commission will be seeking partnerships to fulfill their vision “to recognize and sustain Alternate an environment that celebrates the legacy and continuing contributions of Gullah/Geechee Dr. J. Herman Blake Danny Cromer people to our American heritage.” Dr. Veronica D. Gerald Nichole Green Please join us in this effort. Read this newsletter, attend the meetings, and use the enclosed Georgia response card to share your thoughts about the future of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Charles H. Hall Heritage Corridor. Dr. Althea Natalga Sumpter Alternate Yours truly, Dr. Deborah L. Mack Amir Jamal Toure’, J.D. Emory S. Campbell, Chairman Florida Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission Dr. Antoinette Jackson Glenda Simmons Jenkins Alternate National Park Service Dr. Anthony E. Dixon U.S. Department of the Interior William Jefferson North Carolina In this issue: What is a Cultural Heritage Corridor (CHC)? ................................... 2 Lana Carter How is a CHC different from a national park? ................................. 2 Dr. John H. Haley Creating the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor ................. 2 Alternate The Commission ............................................................................. 3 The Management Plan .................................................................... 3 Dr. David B. Frank We need your help to develop the plan ........................................... 4 Vision/Mission/Purpose.................................................................... 4 National Park Service Liaison Topics for interpretive theme development ...................................... 4 Public involvement meetings/dates/venues/times ............................. 5 Michael Allen How to get involved ........................................................................ 5 Gullah/Geechee Coordinator What’s next? ................................................................................... 5 Contact information ....................................................................... 5 1 Schedule ......................................................................................... 6 Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor National Park Service 5QWVJ%CTQNKPCŐ)GQTIKCŐ0QTVJ%CTQNKPCŐ(NQTKFC United States Department of the Interior PLANNING AREA 77 95 17 NORTH CAROLINA 40 Pender 26 Bladen SOUTH CAROLINA County County Columbus New County Hanover 20 Marion County County Brunswick County Horry 17 County Wilmington 95 20 Williamsburg CREATING THE GULLAH/GEECHEE County Georgetown 26 County Myrtle Beach CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR 17 Dorchester Berkeley County County Charleston The Gullah/Geechee people survived the County 17 Middle Passage to America as enslaved Hampton Colleton County County Charleston Africans who were captured from the rice- County Charleston producing regions of West Africa. In the Jasper County United States, they lived in isolation on the Effingham County 16 sea island communities while working on 17 Bryan Beaufort County County vast plantations in semi-tropical conditions. GEORGIA Chatham County Savannah Because of their isolation, they were Long Liberty County County able to maintain the Gullah language, 95 17 traditions, arts, crafts, and resources. Wayne McIntosh a n County County e c Today, much of this heritage remains in the O Glynn Brantly County communities. County c i t Camden n Charlton County The journey to preserve Gullah/Geechee County 17 a l Nassau culture began in 2000 when the National t County Park Service was authorized by Congress Duval A County to conduct a Special Resource Study. 10 Jacksonville The Low Country Gullah Culture Special Resource Study documented the national FLORIDA 17 95 St. Johns significance of the Gullah/Geechee people County 75 SEA ISLANDS and their culture. The National Trust for NOTE: NORTH Historic Preservation included the Gullah/ The planning area boundary is based on a 30-mile offset. PLANNING AREA BOUNDARY County names appearing in white type are not Geechee culture on its 2004 annual 0 50 100 Miles mentioned in this study, but may have cultural resources. list of most endangered resources. The Planning Notes: special resource study recommended the establishment of a cultural heritage area to What is a Cultural Heritage Corridor? protect these endangered resources. The full text of the study can be found at www. A cultural heritage corridor is part of the historic and recreational resources combine nps.gov/sero/planning/gg_srs/gg_res.htm. National Park Service’s National Heritage to form a cohesive, nationally-distinctive Area program. Cultural heritage corridors landscape arising from patterns of human As a result of the special resource study generally cross state boundaries and are activity shaped by geography. These areas findings, Congress established the heritage linear in nature. These corridors are locally- are built and sustained by community corridor in 2006 (Subtitle I of Public managed places designated by the United partnerships and are planned around a Law 109-338). The heritage corridor States Congress where natural, cultural, region’s shared heritage. was created to recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by Africans and African Americans known as Gullah/Geechee who How is a Cultural Heritage Corridor settled in the coastal regions of the four states. The legislation designated the Different From a National Park? barrier islands and coastal regions along the Atlantic Ocean as the heritage corridor. A national park preserves and interprets that future generations will be able to The emerging National Heritage Area a unique feature not found anywhere understand their relationship to the land and spans a geographical area encompassing else in the United States. A cultural their heritage. Cultural heritage corridors, over 12,000 square miles along the coast heritage corridor preserves and interprets which are National Heritage Areas, provide through four states: South Carolina, a community’s pride in its history and educational and inspirational opportunities Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. The traditions and its success depends largely that invite the public and residents to visit legislation established the commission as on the level of involvement from the and learn about an important aspect of our the local coordinating entity and assigned community. Preserving the integrity of the American culture. the duty of preparing and submitting a cultural landscape and local stories means 2 management plan to the Secretary of the Interior. (The full text of the legislation can be found at www.nps.gov/legal/ laws/109laws.htm, click on item 32 P.L. 109-338, search for Subtitle I, Gullah / Geechee Heritage Corridor.) THE COMMISSION The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is managed by a commission. The commission has many responsibilities First African Baptist Church, GA including coordinating and supporting Penn Center, SC planning for and development of the cultural heritage corridor. Their duties include planning for and implementing THE MANAGEMENT PLAN interpretation and preservation opportunities, identifying important resources, seeking partners and funding to implement actions called for in the management plan. The Gullah/Geechee The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission