Lowcountry Gullah

The Gullah Seminole connection is something that most people don't know about but, pockets of communities can be found in Bracketville, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mexico, and several Caribbean Islands.

Find out their incredible history, where they came from, how they got their name, their traditions and more!

A familiar scent from a plant, a flavors on your plate or a common phrase are all powerful connections to the ancestors. They left their voices that continue to whisper to us like breadcrumbs for us to follow in stories and everything that we see, taste and do.

The ancestors left behind so many things for us to learn from and telling their complete and unfiltered story is only one of the duties that we have. Preserving the land where they were enslaved is an important part of that homage, as well as protecting communities that we live in today from industrial polution. Meet twin sisters Jo and Joy Banner from the Descendant's Project, who are doing just that.

The conversations about the past, and the trauma that was caused doesn't often include how the damage can be fixed.

The after effects are VERY real.

And the number of corporations that have played a part in the economic benefits from slavery is very long. The Guardian Newspaper is one of those companies that was supported by slavery, but has strepped up to admit its role AND they are doing something about it.

Just the idea of working on a family tree can be intimadating but, all you need is the right tools in your tool box. Tap in to discover exactly what you need to begin your journey of discovery and how you too can grow your family tree.

Identity is so important. So is knowing and understanding oneself. But, when some of the pieces of your life are missing, like where you land in your family tree or who you decended from, that lack of information can be devastating.....or it can be empowering and uplifting.

Sometimes, finding ways of connecting to our culture is hard. Of course research and traditions are the easy options that we have, but developing new and varied ways of not only experiencing and even tasting it, but also sharing our culture. Take Carolina Gold Rice for example. It is yet another deeply rooted and significant part of our culture that has taken on more than just space on the plate.

Yep, that's who I am! And PROUD of it! Funny, I get asked alot if I am Gullah and who's behind Lowcountry Gullah. So, here's the story behind the work and why it's become my life's mission and purpose.

The newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery.

It may be the most recent addition to the federal calendar, but it's the oldest and longest nationally celebrated holiday in the US. June 19th, otherwise known as Juneteenth or Black independence day.

Sadly, the majority of Americans don't know or even recognize the importance of this date to our history.

Juneteenth is not just Black History, but an important milestone in American history and the birth of freedom.

The Lowcountry Gullah Podcast has been airing for three years and has more than 100 interviews available, all hosted by Luana Graves Sellars. In this episode, we flipped the script!

The interviewer has become the interviewee! Here's the backstory on the creation of Lowcountry Gullah, the motivation behind it and just a little taste of my trip to Africa.