WHERE THE GULLAH NEGRO LIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1929, Page 2

WHERE THE GULLAH NEGRO LIVES

AMERICA’S REMINDER OF DARKEST AFRICA. The “ Black Border ” —so designated, not because of any tincture of the terrain, but because of the ebony skin'of the major portion of the natives — stretches along the coast of South Caro lina from Georgetown to the Savannah River and extends inland approximately 50 miles. In this region dwells the Gullah negro, popularised by the novels of Dubois Heyward and Julia Peterkin, and even more faithfully and accurately pictured in the works of the late Ambose Gonzales. These negroes comprise approximately 75 per cent, of the population and are the least affected of all American citizens by the transfer through several,* generations 'from Darkest Africa to the United States liinky-haired, thick-lipped, heavy-fram-ed and large-footed, with flat nostrils low foreheads and bullet-shaped craniums, these semi-barbarians lead a happy and carefree existence in a region where that root of all-evil money is a minor problem. : • • They speak a language which is a curious’ mixture of* Modified English, African dialects and a. merger of both. Few persons besides the native can understand this Gullah speech, and the dialect varies somewhat from island to islaridv The 'South Carolina coast is cut into innumerable flat, semi-tro-pical islands ; 6f varied' sizes by countless salt-water in’ets and streams. Little touched by the inroads o'f advancing progress, industry and the civilising influence of whites, the Gul!uhs dwell in scattered farm shacks and small communities throughout these sea islands.

CAREFREE HERDING. These people live in a purely rural life on small farms that in most cases belong to them, • although frequently bearing mortgages. They raise some cotton for ginning arid vegetables for their own use. During - the ' proper seasons they labour iii the fields of the white's when they can find employment some work in the oyster factories, shucking the mussels,' while others, man the oyster fleets. Each farmer usually raises enough/corn and sometimes rice to cari’y him' through the year; It is a rare thing 'for the rural families to have an income of more than £2O each. On Saturdays the entire family piles into'S’ cart' drawn by a “marsh takie” a mule or an <fx, or occasionally into a ra'ttly old motor vehicle, and away ' go to'-towiV for their marketing. ' ’ '' •'•'• j The Gullah’s house is usually a small frame hbuse with one two or three rooms, seldom more. - As' they are a prolific race these dwellings are usually crowded to an unbelieveable degree and often more than one -family lives in one house. Tf 'is not at all unusual for the entire-family to sleep ,eat and live in one floorless room, and as a Northerner facetiously ■ expressed it “they sometimes take-in boarders.” These buildings 'in most cases,' took always on the verge ’of collapsing, so out •o'f line are they and so awkardly constructed of- weak timbers. Occasionally a building shows signs of one having been subjected to a coat of paint more often whitewash has been used to brighten the exterior and interior. Not infrequently the hoarding has been left bare to the assaults of the weather.

The negro on the most inaccessible islands shows the least effect of the Avhite man’s hand and is the pure blooded African. He wears some clothes, but not‘enough to worry about, and feels more at home' out in the sun than in the shelter of a bililding. He shuns the habits of the white man, and the State compulsory education law is absolutely nullified. Education has to he forced upon mbst of them by the State or ’ by more enlightened blacks. They don’t want to bother with it. Under their present condition of existence it would be wasted in many cases. NEGRO CHARACTERISTICS. Here a tribute may he paid to the educators in some of the schools of the region, notably Penn School, on St. Helena Island. This reference is not to State-supported public schools which are inadequate to cope with the situ-

tion, but to institutions established by .Northerners in the years following the civil war for the purpose of carrying on missionary work, and still supported by Northern funds. These training and normal schools, until recently look ed upon with x-esentment by most of the white population, do a worth-while work, teaching the negro practical tilings so that he can make the most of li'is condition and improve his home life, his health and the general welfare of the country. .The teachers wisely avoid any attempt to instil in-

bo the negro notions that lie is at present tne intellectual equal of the white and should assert himself. They accept the situation, and accept that fact that the negro’s uplift must necessarily come through a period ojt gradual development and education. In contact with the .white man, the negro often loses his exuberance, causes garrulity, bold simplicity, and unlimited good humour. Before his Caucasian brother unless they are the best elf friends, lie often becomes glum, reticent, and speaks in a low, almost unintelligible mumble, seeming to chew his words before spitting them out. When aught in a tight place and'fearing that lie is considered guilty of something, he reports to the lie without any exterior show of shame, even through the truth probably would serve him better.