A book of vibrant paintings and wisdom celebrating the artistry and spirit of the Gullah Geechee culture
This book joins the art and wisdom of two internationally recognized keepers of the Gullah Geechee culture, Gullah mixed media artist Sonja Griffin Evans and cultural influencer and preservationist Luana M. Graves Sellars. Evans' powerful and colorful images join Sellars' stories and cultural insight to create a rich and beautiful representation of the unique Gullah Geechee oral tradition. Each section highlights a dimension of the Gullah Geechee people—their traditions, history, and wisdom.
The Gullah Geechee culture is rooted in the blending of several West African traditions and American landscapes, beginning with the fraught history of enslavement in the early 19th century—and continuing within the vibrant culture today. Most Americans are not aware of the vast influence of the Gullah Geechee culture on our everyday language and customs.
The Gullah Geechee is a culture in which traditions are passed down orally. As such, some of the information from elders and previous generations is incomplete or has been lost. Carry We Spirit: The Gullah Legacy in Paint and Words memorializes and preserves this rich inheritance in all its beauty and wonder.
