The Journey of A. Philip Randolph from the Gullah/Geechee Nation to Pullman Cars

The Journey of A. Philip Randolph from the Gullah/Geechee Nation to Pullman Cars

by Gullah/Geechee Nation

Message: 

Please honor the Gullah Gee Chee people, Mr. A. Randolph is Gullah Gee Chee, he fought and won. It is a must for our revolution we honor the Gullah Gee Chee, who freed us from chattel slavery. We owe them an ancestral debt, they loss blood and family to free us. The Gullah Gee Chee people they are warriors, they are farmers, blacksmiths, house builders, herbal doctors, ship builders, basket weavers, fisherman, scientists, chiefs and monarch. It was natural for Mr. Randolph to be more for unions, which deals with jobs and education, as Mr. Garvey was a staunch supporter of Pan African union with Mother Africa, they  both fought for economic infrastructure, which is our best solution.. Professor Bayyinah Bello teaches, we must not judge the ancestors, for they did what they could with what they had. They didn't have all the information that we have today, so our leaders fought each other, because of differences they had misunderstandings with each other. Now Professor Bayyinah Bello is Haitian, Haitians fought bloody battles with European armies and won, just like the Gullah Gee Chee. Honor the two mighty African powers of the West. We can learn from them. 

Ase, ase, ase, ooo! Love, Sango.

A. Philip Randolph: Portrait in Black

Honoring The Brotherhood - Pullman Porters

Tune in as Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) host the annual Labor Day broadcast of "Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio."  She focuses on A. Philip Randolph who was raised in the Jacksonville, Florida area of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and came to be nationally known for his work on behalf of labor unions, especially his work with the "Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters" which was excellently portrayed in the film, "10,ooo Black Men Named George."

Queen Quet ties his journey to the labor of the Gullah/Geechee ancestors over the generations on "The Labor Day Story and the Gullah/Geechee Legacy:" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee/2016/09/06/the-labor-day-story-and-gullahgeechee-legacy.

September Celebrations een de #GullahGeechee Nation by Gullah/Geechee Nation

September Celebrations een de #GullahGeechee Nation 

by Gullah/Geechee Nation

September is Middle Passage Month in the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  In the midst of the on-going traditions of honoring our ancestors and paying homage to them for all that they did to thrive and survive in the face of hardships and oppression, we also celebrate our continued existence.  We gee tenks ta GAWD fa mekin we Gullah/Geechee Anointed People!

In honor of our Gullah/Geechee legacy, we began the month with the celebration of International Literacy Day in the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  We will continue with "Gullah/Geechee Unity in the Community" in Savannah, GA on September 17th and 18th beginning at 11 am on River Street.

River Street was the site of auction blocks during the TransAtlantic Slave Trade period.  Folks coming in for the weekend are encouraged to take the "Dayclean Journeys Tour" leaving from the Savannah Visitors' Center in order to learn more about the Gullah/Geechee story of the entire city and Coastal Empire.

We will wrap up the month raising funds for the new interpretive kiosk for Fort Fremont on historic St. Helena Island, SC.  This is one of the many forts along the Gullah/Geechee Nation's coast that was built by our ancestors.  To insure that this part of our story will have an opportunity to be made available to all that come to visit this historic site, we are encouraging everyone to come out to the Celadon Club on Lady's Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation on Friday, September 30th between 6:00 and 8:30 pm for "Down Caribbean Way" featuring DJ Kwame Sha of All Mobile Productions who will spin for this Caribbean night of fun and fundraising!

Cum fa jayn we!  Git hunnuh ticket ya: http://www.fortfremont.org/social.html

The celebration of the Sea Island links to the Caribbean islands continues for two weeks with the Moja Arts Festival in Charleston, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  Every year, "Carlie Towne Gullah/Geechee People Productions" sponsors a Gullah/Geechee play to raise funds for the "Gullah/Geechee Angel Network" and to edutain the community.  This year, they are doing this in collaboration with Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com).  Queen Quet wrote the play, "Gullah/Geechee Knows Emanuel" and will be featured in it along with Amir Jamal Toure & Ernest Parks as "Denmark Vesey" and "Gullah Jack."   Tickets for this dramatic production that will take place on Saturday, October 8th at 7 pm at the Pointe Center in North Charleston can be obtained at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10105929.

Middle Passage Month Comes in Like a Storm in the Gullah/Geechee Nation

Middle Passage Month Comes in Like a Storm in the Gullah/Geechee Nation

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

Throughout the year, the leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation honor our ancestral legacy through libation ceremonies and the transference of cultural knowledge.  In September of each year, we specifically focus our energy on the arrival of our African ancestors on the Sea Islands of the Gullah/Geechee Nation  via the Middle Passage.  September is "Middle Passage Month" in the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  We tell the stories of the horrors of the crime against humanity that chattel slavery was and the strength and triumph of our Gullah/Geechee ancestors that survived this journey and then dripped their blood, sweat, and tears into this soil as the nurturing agent that brought forth a mighty people that continue to endure hardships and thrive and prosper like "the tree planted by the rivers of the waters."

As Middle Passage Month came in like a storm this year, hurricane and tropical storm breezes pushed the waters up along the Atlantic seabaord of the Gullah/Geechee Nation's coast.  As the storm raged I could hear Gil Scott singing, "Rivers of My Fathers" and I could feel my soul repeating the dances that I had done to this song so many times before.  I made it home as the drops of rain started to fall against the windshield of my vehicle.  I made it home to my mother's porch where the entire family ended up gathering when suddenly the trees swayed and started to fall and the transformers exploded leaving the island without lights.

We sat out in the sunlight while darkness was inside the house and I thought of the time that we were aboard the Amistad and there was utter darkness within the hull of the ship and only one stream of light shined in from above as if that was GOD telling us where to focus.  We had to look up to see the source of the light.  I walked off the porch out into the breeze several times between the swirls of rain that came and I looked up.  I gave thanks that my family was together, safe, and reminiscing.  I gave thanks for my ancestors that no doubt had weathered storms on this same land in this same place together.  I gave thanks to GOD for realizing that we were brought together again at such a time as this and that we could calmly enjoy one another knowing "this too shall pass."  I looked up and I listened.

I wondered if in the midst of the Middle Passage any of our ancestors sat or laid in faith knowing that "this too shall pass" or did they weep, did they mourn,  did they fight, did they plot.  The Spirit said, "They did this all and some died."   I then saw the bodies that were thrown over board just as a tree was pushed by the wind in a manner that resemble something being swung and I could see two people throwing another into the ocean.  I could visualize the shoreline with bodies strewn about that had washed up onto the land the way that the waters were washing up right now in the midst of this storm.  I prayed that their spirits were now at peace.  I prayed that our libations made them under and overstand that we have not forgotten who they are and all that they went through.  Their lives were not in vain.

I went back onto the porch and in seconds the rain came back again and I saw this as GOD's libation.  I saw this as GOD's cleansing of the earth once again.  I saw the images of how this and every one of these hurricanes began off the coast of the Motherland.  I could hear her speaking to her children of the diaspora including those here in the Gullah/Geechee Nation reminding us of the pain she felt due to the loss of her children.  She wants us to continue to remember their journey.  She wants us to continue to remember what is valuable and what they brought to where they were taken-strength, faith, and treasuring family.

I sat their and appreciated the sunshine and when the evening came, I appreciated lighting lanterns and candles the way my ancestors and elders used to do.  Several of us remembered how we had to do homework by such lighting.  We gave thanks together for how far we've come and all that we have as I placed one lantern on top of the TV that could not function because the electricity still had not come on.  We sat together close in a circle in the living room and even as the sun went down and the small fire flickered, we could see one another. In that moment, I realized that the light was shining in on us here too, but that light wasn't from an opening in the ceiling, but it was a light from above.  It was the spiritual light from within each of us that were in this one family and with it combined in this one space at Mama's house it was bright enough that we could all see and as we can see, we can journey, and we are at peace together.  I realized then how Mama Africa had sent that light into the hulls of those spaces as her children were forced across the Middle Passage to bring this energy to these shores.  I realized how GOD lifted the heads and eyes of our ancestors to cause them to always look up to find that light that would energize and strengthen them.

I realized that this storm was a blessing.  Middle Passage Month needed to storm in to shake us, wake us, make us step back in time for a minute, and remember.  Remember the journey and pull on the strength and keep gwine on Gullah/Geechee chillun.  Keep gwine on!

Ron Daise: Gullah-Geechee Nationality Stands Tall

Gullah/Geechee Unity in the Community in the SAV! A.K.A Savannah, Ga.

Gullah/Geechee Unity in the Community in SAV!

by Gullah/Geechee Nation

Cum fa jayn we and bring de famlee fa "Gullah/Geechee Unity een de Communitee!"

 Join us on the historic riverfront of Savannah, GA for a FREE weekend celebrating the Gullah/Geechee Nation's history and heritage of this port city and the Coastal Empire!

featured presenters are

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

Dayclean, the African Spirit

Abu Drummers 

Wose Adande Drummers and Dancers

Sweetgrass Artisan Gregory Grant

Gullah/Geechee Healers Khetnu Nefer of "A Soulful Touch Wellness"

and

Tremaine Abeena Moore" of "Naturally Geechee"

There will also be Motown music and dancing with the Unity in the Community DJ!

Come out and enjoy at least one day!

Vendors must have spaces reserved by September 9, 2016!

Go to www.unityinthecommunity.org for details.

While in Savannah, go by and support the grand opening of "Geechee Grub" at 2117 Gwinnett Street Savannah, GA 31404.  Call them at (912) 436-9750 and let them know you are coming through or to check out what is on the menu.

Mek sho hunnuh dey dey wid we fa disya "Gullah/Geechee Unity een de Communitee!"

www.gullahgeecheenation.com

General Ad- 3rd Weekend 2016 Artist, Crafters, Entertainers Festival- River Street, Savannah, GA.

July 18- Gullah Geechee Dancing on River Street

Gullah Homecoming - Sierra Leone & Gullah People Reunite (1989)

A Taste of Gullah

Watch host of Viceland Does America, Wilbert, receive a NEW NAME during traditional ceremony in Oyotunji African Yoruba Village

Oyotunji Naming Ceremony

Since the commencement of the African Restoration Movement during the 50s in the United States, African descendants in American have been going through both simple and elaborate ceremonies to receive an African name that reflects their destiny and lineage. Oyotunji specializes in providing those interested in knowing more about their ancestry with divination guided Naming Ceremonies. 

What is in an African name? 

African In America reclaim their ancestry, get new tribal names!

Many African ethnic groups including that of the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria are very particular and intentional when it comes to naming their young. Traditionally a child receives his name on the seventh day after birth.The child and his mother sit before the community, a priest or Babalawo and divine to pull a name from the heavens that reflects the destiny or lineage of the child. 

Babaaláwo or Babalawo (Babalao or Babalaô in Latin America; literally meaning 'father of the mysteries' in the Yoruba language) is a spiritual title that denotes a Priest of Ifá. Its female counterpart is called Iyalawo (meaning 'mother of divination) or Iyanifa (Mother of Ifa).