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The Gullah people are known for certain artforms, especially sweetgrass basket weaving and quilting. In fact, sweetgrass baskets are unique to the Gullah people and authentic sweetgrass baskets are found nowhere else. These too are endangered: the quantity and quality of sweetgrass is reduced due to environmental stress. And the number of Gullah weavers able to produce the intricate patterns unique to Gullah sweetgrass baskets diminishes each year. So sweetgrass baskets have become a real "collector's item" among those who recognize the value in rarity. At De Gullah Creations, part of the proceeds of every sweetgrass purchase goes directly back to the craftsperson.
At De Gullah Creations, you can find out about their rise from slavery, how freedom came early, the Civil War and it's aftermath, the first freedman's town, Mitchelville, and how the unique Gullah culture is being preserved and promoted on Hilton Head Island and the Beaufort County, SC area. De Gullah Creations is proud to be a part of this effort.
The period of Reconstruction immediately following the Civil War is one of the most misunderstood periods of American history. It was a controversial, difficult and violent time characterized by the adoption of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments that granted freedom, citizenship, voting, and civil rights during a time of Jim Crow laws. Understanding Reconstruction is essential to understanding America's history of race relations and the enduring impact of the Civil War.
De Gullah Creations is founded on the principle that preserving and promoting the Gullah culture is not only altruistic, but economically beneficial to the Hilton Head area as well. The Hilton Head and regional coastal area is the only place authentic Gullah culture can be found. No academic program on Black Studies should be without a section on the Gullah culture. It represents one of the few remaining direct links back to the freed slaves.
