The Gullah Geechee people, descendants of West African slaves brought to the United States, have a profound connection to the Sea Islands stretching from North Carolina to Florida. These islands, while sometimes romanticized as sanctuaries, served a more complex  role in history. Initially, the islands were not intended as refuges but rather as isolation zones, where slaves were sent to prevent them from mingling with white populations—the first bridges between the islands and the mainland did not appear until the 1940s and '50s. As a result, however, the Gullah Geechee populations were able to maintain many of the customs, language, food, and other culture they brought from Africa.

 Today, the Gullah Geechee communities are engaged in a vital struggle to preserve their cultural heritage and land amidst modern challenges. Key among these challenges is the constant fight to keep the land given and owed to them post-slavery.  Government proposals and rich developers threaten to damage not only history and culture, but also cause environmental injustice on the long-standing residents of these islands. This ongoing battle against development, gentrification, and historical erasure underscores the importance of acknowledging the true nature of their historical contributions and supporting their right to safeguard their future.