The Legacy Arts Project Gullah Geechee Root Experience Tour Trip

The Legacy Arts Project Presents
The Gullah/Geechee Root Experience Tour
To Beaufort, S. Carolina Sea Islands
June 21-24, 2007

The Gullah culture started with the transportation of African slaves to the Sea Islands of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The Sea Islands served as an excellent location for the Gullah culture because of its separation from the mainland. The African slaves, who came from different regions in African, brought with them their language, culture and traditions. Collectively these traditions and languages have merged into one to form Gullah.

The Gullah culture has survived over the years by Gullah elders passing down the language and traditions to their children. However, over the past fifty years the Gullah culture has started to die. Three significant factors are the development of resorts along the Sea Islands, the movement of Gullah descendants to larger cities, in search of employment and the education of Gullah descendants. The later of the factors has severely damaged the Gullah culture. As the Gullah people are becoming educated, they are taught that it is no longer acceptable to speak “broken-English”. However the Gullah language is more than just “broken-English”. It is a art form that serves as the link between Africans and African-Americans.

Itinerary**
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Bus departs at 7:00 p.m. from the Kingsley Center (East Liberty)

Friday, June 22, 2007
8:30 am - Arrive Beaufort, S. Carolina check into the Ramada Limited Hotel
· 10:00 am-1:00 pm - De Gullah Root Experience Tour of St. Helena Island, S.C.
Historical tour conducted by Queen Quet*** Visit slave plantations, slave burial grounds, auction blocks and much more.
· 1-2 pm - Workshops: (Free time to explore if you don't attend workshops.)
· Polyrhythms & Language
· Indigo Workshop
· 3-4 pm - Visit Penn Center, home of the first school for freed slaves established in 1862 administered by a Pittsburgher, Ms. Laura M. Towne. It now serves as a museum and community education center.

Saturday, June 23, 2007
· 8:30 am - Depart for Charleston, SC
· 10:30 am - Arrive Charleston, SC
· 10:30 am-Noon - Visit Old Stave Mart
Visit Avery Museum - Story from our origins in Africa up to and through the Civil Rights Movement.
· Noon - Go to Mt. Pleasant and visit Sullivan Island (original location of the Pest Houses.).Lunch at Gullah Cuisine in Mt. Pleasant.
· Afternoon - Shop at Charleston Market (Ladies, you will love it!)
· 3 pm - Return to Ramada, Beaufort, S.C.

Sunday, June 24, 2007
· 11:00 am - Attend church with Queen Quet (as the Spirit leads you)
· 3 pm - Depart S.C. for return to Pittsburgh

COST: $350 per person -- $100 deposit (non-refundable)
(Cost includes bus transportation, double occupancy accommodations for 2 nights with complimentary breakfast. (Sweetgrass basket weaving and indigo dye workshops are at an additional cost)

REGISTER NOW - SPACE IS LIMITED
TOTAL PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JUNE 15, 2007.
Make checks or money orders out to: Alice L. Pittrell. Place Gullah/Geechee Trip in the memo line.

Mail this form and payment to: The Legacy Arts Project, 923 Adelaide St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5714

For more information call: 412 682 2565, press 2; or email imamidance@comcast.net
**Itinerary subject to change ***Log on Queen Quet for more information about the Gullah/Geechee Nation.