Deep in the heart of South Carolina, a new approach to teaching is brewing – one that serves up a side of culture with every meal. Educators are harnessing the power of traditional foodways to bring Gullah Geechee heritage alive for high school and college students, sparking a deeper connection to their roots.
A six-week English course at the Charleston County School of Arts culminated in a field trip to the College of Charleston's Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. There, students delved into the history and significance of traditional dishes like okra, red rice, and beans, uncovering fascinating stories about their families' pasts.
The programme was made possible by a $1,000 memoir grant from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Penguin Random House, and the Anne Frank Fonds. Educators are hopeful that the course will be repeated annually, with high school and college students throughout South Carolina set to benefit from Gullah Geechee history and culture projects this academic year.
At Coastal Carolina University, students created multimedia projects about Gullah foodways with support from the Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies, and The Athenaeum Press. Their work shed light on the cultural significance of rice, hibiscus, peas, watermelon, and collard greens within the Gullah Geechee community.