Gullah/Geechee Black History Living Legend Queen Quet Makes History Again with New Books

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) has begun the year making history once again.   Right after receiving the “Black Excellence Gullah/Geechee Gate Keeper Award” from the MLK Observance Committee of Bluffton and Hilton Head, she was sent a letter informing her that she will be amongst others nominated for the “American Climate Leadership Awards” that will be honored for their work in Washington, DC in March.  These accolades stand as testimonies to the continued outstanding work that Queen Quet is doing on behalf of her community on the Sea Island coast.

Queen Quet, who coined the phrase, “The Art-ivist” to describe herself, has taken the Gullah/Geechee culture of the Sea Islands to all fifty states in the United States and around the world via her “Gullah/Geechee histo-musical presentations.”  She will return to the highways, byways, and skyways sharing her culture via four new books that she has released in the space of two months.  During December she released a Gullah/Geechee novel duet which contains two Gullah/Geechee novels that focus on intergenerational learning and environmental issues.   “We Journey” and “Gwine Home” are already receiving outstanding reviews from those that were the first to obtain their copies at the release party at Barnes and Noble in December or via www.GullahGeechee.biz.

Queen Quet did not stop with releasing her first novels, she has authored 15 books now that she also holds copies of her first two children’s books.  “The Sandman’s Daughter” is a collaboration with new author, Robin Carter.  The book is about a multi-cultural magical journey to the Sea Island shore with Gullah/Geechees and one of the loggerhead turtles that teams of residents on the islands work to protect annually.   The book was illustrated by Al Hawkins who was on the production team for the documentary, “The Will to Survive: The Story of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.”  Queen Quet let her online followers know how this book will help them learn more about the Sea Island coast:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK5CFCI0Kbk

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) has released two new children’s books. Gwine ta www.GullahGeechee.biz fa git disya fa hunnuh chillun.

To launch the Black History Month Celebration, Queen Quet who was honored as a living legend by the founders of Black History Month, the Association for the Study of African American Life and Culture (ASALH) many years ago, released “Goody Goodie: A Gullah/Geechee Tale.””Goody Goodie” was written by Queen Quet and illustrated by Gullah/Geechee artist, Quadré Stuckey of Quad Designs (www.QuadDesigns.net).  The two of them made sure that their online community was part of this release celebration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpcfv_x2eVE

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) and Quadré Stuckey release their first collaboration, “Goody Goodie: A Gullah/Geechee Tale.”

This Gullah/Geechee dynamic duo will be on tour together over the coming months.  During Black History Month, they will present and sign copies of their new book at “De Artistry of Gullah/Geechee” at the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Georgia on February 22nd from Noon to 3 pm.   The following Saturday, February 29, they will close out the month at “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at the Gullah Museum” in Georgetown, SC from Noon to 3 pm.   Tickets can be obtained for these events via these links:

De Artistry of Gullah/Geechee: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/de-artistry-of-gullahgeechee-tickets-87235717379

Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at De Gullah Museum: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-famlee-day-at-de-gullah-museum-een-georgetown-tickets-87239027279

Queen Quet is encouraging everyone “fa jayn me pun disya Gullah/Geechee journey fa yeddi mo bout who webe” as she shares the words from the pages that she has scribed.  Make sure to gather your family and head out to these events in celebration of Black history with a person that is not only a living legend, but is leaving a rich Gullah/Geechee legacy in celebration of literacy.

Celebrating Gullah/Geechee een SC!

As spring begins and planting season takes place in the Gullah/Geechee Nation, opportunities to engage with Gullah/Geechee culture blooms.   A series of events and celebrations highlighting the living legacy of the Gullah/Geechee will be taking place throughout SC:

• Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 11 am De Gullah/Geechee: Voices of a Living African Legacy

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, Elder Carlie Towne, Representative Glenda Simmons-Jenkins, and artist Anastatia Ketchens will present for the “Deckle Edge Literary Festival” at the Richland Library in Columbia, SC.  The event is open to the public and is FREE.

De Gullah/Geechee: Voices of a Living African Legacy

• Saturday, April 13, 2019 Coastal Cultures Conference at Hunting Island, SC

Join the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank at their annual conference focused on “Healin’ de Land and Holdin’ pun de Culcha.”  Register at 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coastal-cultures-conference-2019-healin-de-land-keepin-de-culcha-tickets-54417733907

• Saturday, May 4, 2019 Gullah/Geechee Bike & Beauty St. Helena Island, SC

Calling all Black bikers in celebration of Biker Month!  Join the Gullah/Geechee Famlee in celebrating the history of Black bikers and at this competition of Black bikers.  Ride out and roll on to historic St. Helena Island, SC!  Register yourself and your crew and come on through:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-bike-beauty-tickets-54425443968

• Saturday, July 27, 2019 Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day at Mosquito Beach

Bring the entire family for this reunion at historic Mosquito Beach in Charleston County, SC as we launch Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week!  Support the businesses of Mosquito Beach and enjoy the day mixing and mingling with Gullah/Geechees from throughout the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  Download passes in advance at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-famlee-day-at-mosquito-beach-2019-tickets-55576705422

Sustaining a Nation by Queen Quet @GullahGeechee

by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com)

Since 1996, I have toured various states and countries on the “Save the Sea Islands Tour.”  This year in honor of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition‘s two decades celebration, the tour was continued as the “Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands World Tour.”   I give thanks for everyone that contributed a dollar or more and to those that sincerely prayed for my safety and the upliftment of the Gullah/Geechee Nation for every leg of every journey that I have taken over these decades.

When I started out doing this work over almost 4 decades ago, no one else used the term “Gullah/Geechee” and now it is a hashtag unto itself.  I was led to put the two words together in order to unify my people who had been separated by those that truly sought to destroy our spirits and exploit our abilities in the process.  The fortunate reality is that there are people around the world that now know of the existence of #GullahGeechee history, heritage, and culture.  However, the unfortunate thing is that due to the saturation of the entertainment and tourist markets with storytelling and misleading representations via museums, replicated sites, non-Gullah/Geechee operated events, tourism agencies, and now even museums that seek to exploit grant money, the work that the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition and the leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation are doing has become that much more difficult.  These misrepresentations and continued financial exploitation are creating a narrative that is anti-self determination and anti-self-sufficiency and leaves the sharing of Gullah/Geechee history in the hands of those that do not and have never lived the culture and in the hands of the assimilated that wanted no part of it until they could get paid or get a title position on a commission or at an institution.

Meanwhile, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network, Geechee Kunda, the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association, and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Committee of Northeast Florida still stand as legitimate Gullah/Geechee organizations that are actually Gullah/Geechee owned, operated, directed, and funded.  These groups were founded by native Gullah/Geechees that seek to insure that our history, heritage, cultural traditions, and land ownership are continued.  The projects and programs that they sponsor and host are proudly authentically Gullah/Geechee!  Tenk GAWD dem chillun kno who webe!

Each one of these groups pay homage to our ancestors by continuing to hold onto the land that their blood, sweat, and tears is within and to continue to teach the next generation how to be self-sustaining on the land and how to spiritually give thanks for it all and in the midst of it all.  The work that they do daily is becoming more and more difficult with funds being funneled away from the traditionalists into the coffers of institutions and organizations spearheaded by non-Gullah/Geechees coupled with the numerous land issues including displacement, gentrification, climate change, sea level rise, seismic gun testing, and attempts at oil exploration.   However, no matter how difficult the challenge, if our ancestors had the will to survive the TransAtlantic Slave Trade and chattel enslavement, we KNOW we have the will to fight back and leave a legacy of self-determination for our children in the Gullah/Geechee Nation!

While slavery’s indelible mark on the psyches of those that work against self-determination is quite apparent, there are thousands of others that do not seek to compete against us or undo the work.  They instead want to collaborate and be part of the efforts to insure that Gullah/Geechee culture remains intact on our homeland from Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL.  They work with the leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation via the Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank and the aforementioned organizations to improve the quality of life for not only this generation of Gullah/Geechees, but for the generations to come.

I will never be able to individually thank all of the people that have supported me over the decades or even on the Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands World Tour this year.  However, I am thankful for social media that allows many of you to communicate your support and to encourage me to continue the journey.  Hunnuh chillun mek mi kno sey, mi libbin ain dee een vain!  Tenk GAWD fa hunnuh ya!

As this year’s world tour draws to a close and we get prepared for our annual break at the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, I want to leave everyone (whether you are for or against me) with this message that succinctly provides information on how one sustains a nation:

 

For those of you that contributed to the Gullah/Geechee Land Legacy Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund) and to the fundraisers to send me to the United Nations and on this global journey, my message from Thailand will only confirm the reason you are a part of Gullah/Geechee sustainability.  For all others, I pray that this message will have you rethink things and not just follow or troll us socially, but truly come and work WITH us.  “Wok togedda chillun, don cha git wearee” da wha hunnuh see we da do e ain juss wha hunnuh yeddi!  So, fa all hunnuh wan da support de #GullahGeechee, GAWD bless hunnuh and tenki tenki!  Mi pray fa see hunnuh pun de necks journee fa #GullahGeechee sustainability!

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) has dedicated her life to sustaining the land and cultural traditions of her people. She has coupled her efforts with the global community to combat climate change and sea level rise and to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She continues her journey to keep the Gullah/Geechee legacy alive on the land. Tenk GAWD!

www.GullahGeechee.net

www.GullahGeecheeNation.com

Gullah/Geechee Artists Featured at Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival 2018

De Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association will host its 5th Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from Noon to 6 pm at the Hunting Island Nature Center.  The Hunting Island Nature Center is on the left at the foot of the bridge to Fripp Island.  This marsh side of the island will be the location of the cooking of the wonderful Gullah/Geechee cuisine including roasted oysters and the serving of devil crabs, fried fish, shrimp salad, gumbo, red rice, peas and rice and more.   It will also be where traditional Gullah/Geechee fishing practices will be demonstrated.

Families and organizations are encouraged to come out and support this fundraising and family interactive event.  Bring fishing and beach gear and come out to enjoy the Paradise Pier while meeting numerous Gullah/Geechee artists.

Featured artists are Ment Nelson and Quadré Stuckey.  These native Gullah/Geechees have captured sea life from the perspective of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and will have their paintings and books on sale.  Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation who is also a founding member of the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association will do book, CD, and DVD signings throughout the day.

The event is being sponsored by the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, and All Mobile Productions™ (AMP™).   AMP will provide the music for the day.  So bring chairs and also your dancing shoes and come out to support the Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival!  Ef hunnuh wan nyam pun sum good ting frum de sea, disya da place fa be cum Satdee!

Obtain advance passes here in order to skip the line for the Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-seafood-festival-2018-tickets-41539032364

Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation Receives Community Service Award from South Carolina Coalition for Voter Participation

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) was honored by the South Carolina Coalition for Voter Participation at a banquet in Charleston, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation.   Queen Quet was chosen to receive the Rev. Dr. BJ Whipper Sr. Award which recognizes an individual for his or her unselfish community work and her spiritual, economic, and political contributions to her home state.

Tune in for the Gullah/Geechee TV (GGTV) coverage of this historic event:

 

www.QueenQuet.com