A Slice of Sea Island Life

Have you ever heard of the Gullah people of the southeastern United States?

1 If you look at a map of the southeastern United States, you will see a string of islands that runs along the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. These islands are often called the Sea Islands. On the map, they probably appear no different than anywhere else in the country. But if you were to visit the islands, you would discover a unique culture and way of life that have been preserved for more than a century.

2 The name Gullah refers to both a group of people and a language. Many Africans were brought to America against their will to work on southern plantations. They harvested cotton and rice, among many other crops, as well as cared for the families of the plantation owners.

3 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the slaves were freed or abandoned. Many stayed to live and work in the area. Because the islands were accessible only by boat, the people were isolated from mainstream culture. The customs and traditions they brought with them from Africa remained largely unchanged for many years.

4 The Gullah language evolved as a way for people who didn’t speak the same language to communicate with one another. It is a combination of many West African languages mixed with English. An English speaker would be able to pick out familiar words here and there, but you probably would not understand most of what was being said.

5 For many years, it seemed as though the Gullah language was in danger of dying out, as the culture became more influenced by the culture of the rest of the United States. However, historical preservationists have been recently recording people speaking the language, as well as compiling dictionaries of various words and their meanings and pronunciation. They are doing their best to insure that the language is preserved for future generations.

6 The Gullah language isn’t the only unique aspect of the native Sea Islanders. They have many traditions that are an important part of their culture. For example, the art of basket weaving has been passed down for many generations. A native grass that grows near the ocean, called sweetgrass, is used by the Gullah to create beautiful handmade baskets. The grass is coiled and then sewn together using a needle made from a spoon handle, bone, or nail.

7 Fish nets are also traditionally handmade in the Gullah culture. Fishing has been an essential part of life in the Sea Islands for many years. Fishermen knitted their own nets by hand using a needle made of palmetto wood, in a tradition carried over from West Africa. It is less common to see these handmade nets today, but some fishermen preserve the craft so that it remains a part of life on the islands.

8 Today, you can still see the influence of the past in the South Carolina Sea Islands. The beauty of the Gullah people’s way of life still exists, and it brings a wonderful local flavor and color to the area. As interest and awareness in this historical culture grows, so does the chance that it will survive for future generations to appreciate.

Spectrum Reading Grade 6

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1. Where are the Sea Islands located?

2. Why did the Gullah language evolve?

3. Name two Gullah traditions that are still practiced today.

4. What is one reason the African customs of the Gullah people remained unchanged for so long?

5. Do you think it is important for the Gullah heritage and way of life to be preserved? Explain.

6. What do you think the author’s purpose was for writing this selection?

Circle the word that best completes each sentence below.

7. Historically, the Gullah have been _______________ craftspeople.

cultural talented preserving

8. In today’s world, the Gullah culture is a(n) _______________ snapshot of the past.

unreasonable temporary unique

9. On the lines below, write a summary for paragraph 5.

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