#Gullah Geechee community

[ausetkmt]

Black Residents Of Gullah-Geechee Enclave In Georgia Angered After Zoning Changes Pose Threat To Their Community

This small enclave is home to a majority of Black residents who are members of the Hogg Hummock community, which is also sometimes referred to as Hog Hammock. According to The Cultural Landscape Foundation, “Hog Hammock was one of fifteen African American Saltwater Geechee settlements on Sapelo Island, Georgia.

The Geechee are descendants of enslaved West Africans brought to work on Sea Island plantations along the Atlantic coast.” Sapelo island is located approximately 60 miles south of Savannah, Georgia and is only reachable by boat.

Almost three decades ago, the county adopted the zoning restrictions, “with the stated intent to help Hogg Hummock’s 30 to 50 residents hold on to their land,” the Associated Press reports.

But the McIntosh County’s elected commissioners recently voted 3-2 vote to change the restrictions. Now, Black residents fear that wealthy buyers will be prioritized over them, which could lead to increases in taxes.

Residents also anticipate this could cause them to be pressured to sell their land, most of which has been in their family for generations.  Atlanta resident Yolanda Grovner originally had a plan where she would ultimately retire on her island native father’s land that he owns in Hogg Hummock, but now she worries this might not be able to happen. Yolanda’s father George Grovner attended the meeting wearing a sticker, which read “Keep Sapelo Geechee,” in defiance of these planned zoning changes.

“It’s going to be very, very difficult,” said Yolanda, continuing, “I think this is their way of pushing residents off the island.”

In recent years, the population on Hogg Hummock has been shrinking because some families have sold their land to outsiders. David Stevens, Chairman of the Commission, said he’s been a visitor on Sapelo Island since the 1980s, and places the blame for these changes on those who are selling their land.

This could be partly true, as the vote followed new construction builds. The commissioners ruling “raised the maximum size of a home in Hogg Hummock to 3,000 square feet (278 square meters) of total enclosed space. The previous limit was 1,400 square feet (130 square meters) of heated and air-conditioned space,” per the Associated Press.

Stevens stated, “I don’t need anybody to lecture me on the culture of Sapelo Island.” “If you don’t want these outsiders, if you don’t want these new homes being built...don’t sell your land,” Stevens concluded.

But the remaining residents have vowed to keep fighting these ordinance changes, and it’s not a new phenomenon for them to fight with the local government either. In 2012, dozens of residents and landowners were able to successfully appeal property tax increases.

In addition, many have spent years “fighting the county in federal court for basic services such as firefighting equipment and trash collection before county officials settled last year,” writes the Associated Press.

Maurice Bailey is a native of Hogg Hummock whose mother Cornelia Bailey had deep roots to the island. Bailey was a Sapelo Island celebrity, keeping the community’s voice alive with her storytelling before she died in 2017. Maurice said, “We’re still fighting all the time,” adding, “They’re not going to stop. The people moving in don’t respect us as people. They love our food, they love our culture. But they don’t love us.”

Some legal experts have hinted at due process violations as well as concerns about encroachment under the equal protection clause.

This issue becomes more complicated given the racial demographics of the county. Hogg Hummock is on the National Register of Historic Places, and in order for the Gullah-Geechee community to receive protections “to preserve the community, residents depend on the local government in McIntosh County, where 65% of the 11,100 residents are white,” says the Associated Press.

[kemetic-dreams]

Historians from Southern Illinois University in the Africana Studies Department documented about 20 title words from the Kikongo language are in the Gullah language. These title words indicate continued African traditions in Hoodoo and conjure. The title words are spiritual in meaning. In Central Africa, spiritual priests and spiritual healers are called Nganga. 

In the South Carolina Lowcountry among Gullah people a male conjurer is called Nganga. Some Kikongo words have a "N" or "M" in the beginning of the word. However, when Bantu-Kongo people were enslaved in South Carolina the letters N and M were dropped from some of the title names. For example, in Central Africa the word to refer to spiritual mothers is Mama Mbondo. In the South Carolina Lowcountry in African American communities the word for a spiritual mother is Mama Bondo. In addition during slavery, it was documented there was a Kikongo speaking slave community in Charleston, South Carolina

[miscmagpie]

Absolutely shattered by the tragedy on Sapelo Island, GA yesterday.

It's a very small community of Gullah Geechee people and the ferry gangway collapsed at the end of a day of cultural celebration.

At least seven people are dead. More are missing or in critical condition.

I don't know of alternative links for aid at this time, but I know the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society has a donation link for their organization at the bottom of the page and can use all of the help they can get.

The community of Hogg Hummock itself is mostly compromised of older residents on fixed incomes, so any assistance to help them get through this tragedy would be a big help.

[not-so-superheroine]

i am canceling the supreme court.

they act like they're gods.

no worldly so-called "justice" is a god of mine.

they need to be overthrown, somehow. no votes so, easier said than done.

checks and balances, my rear end.

more like appointed oligarchs too big for their britches.

[letsdeconstructtogether]

Unity in the Black Community

WE. ARE. JUDEA.

1) Tribes in Kenya have traditionally circumcised for generations

The example below is from the Masai people

(source)

FYI: Kenya is south of Egypt and Israel. Meaning they're close-ish to a lot of Biblical narratives.

Circumcision is a significant sign of a covenant with Yahuah.

2) The Meru people (also from Kenya) have an oral historical account that tells of them crossing the Red Sea BY A MAN DIVIDING THE WATER

BY STRIKING IT

WITH A STAFF.

THATS OBVIOUSLY MOSES.

(source)

3) THE EUROPEANS HAVE BEEN BAMBOOZLING US.

UTTERLY BAMBOOZLING US.

They've been hiding this information from us because we would know that Exodus and Joel is VERY applicable to us.

Don't you think it's weird that they never encourage Exodus or Joel readings in popular Christian outlets?

So here we are Yahuah's people... lost, drunk, and afraid... Forgetting our strength and integrity.

It's time we gird our loins.

Like the song below alludes to, we're still slaves (chains clanging to the sound of an army march)

They never freed us, they only gave us the illusion of freedom.

The army for many black men is servitude. They don't tell you the good positions in the army is locked behind bachelor degrees BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW.

WE'RE MEANT TO BE THE FODDER.

Let's be so for real, how are we ever going to be free in America? In this current system?

We are systematically enslaved.

The education system purposely ensures that this system self-perpetuates. The castle is on our people's shoulders, and they give us the illusion that we are choosing to uphold it

No, we are not. We didn't choose to be sold from our homeland, we didn't choose to be enslaved all around the world, and we did not choose to be the backbone of America.

We were brutally forced to, and we are practically corralled to today.

We are the foot soldiers of America, we are the servants, and we are the cogs.

Cogs blinded to the fact that we don't have to be cogs, neither do our children.

We can lead ourselves as Yahuah's people.

[redwolvestogether]

Welcome

This is a blog dedicated to southeastern USA resources and information. I know there’s a function on this app for multiple people to operate one blog and I am looking into that. If you’d like to join please message me, say something under this post, or send an ask. People I’m looking for to help me run this blog:

Members of southeastern indigenous tribes that would like to share information on current issues or information happening with their tribe that they are comfortable sharing with the public. What these people share will be on their own terms. These tribes include people who were forced out of the south on the trail of tears and now live in what some people would consider non-southern areas. Must be enrolled in a tribe. This section of the blog will have its own terms set by the people within it own framework.

Black southerners that would like to share information on current issues or information happening in the south or in their area. Preferably from every southern state and different regions of each states so as many people are heard. The terms of this section will be set by the people within it.

Gullah Geechee people that would like to share current issues or information happening with their communities. The terms of this section of the blog will be set by the people in it.

Queer and particularly trans people from each state and preferably different regions of each state that would like to share current issues or information happening. This section should be diverse and have people from multiple queer identities as well have people that are black and brown, disabled people, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized identities. This is so the full queer experience in the south is talked about instead of the most privileged experience. The terms of this section of the blog will be set by the people in it.

Latine people who would like to share their communities current issues or information. From each state and preferably from different regions of each state. The terms of this section will be set by people within it.

Immigrant and refugees from each state and preferably different regions of each state that would like to share current issues or information happening in their community. The terms of this section of the blog will be set by the people in it.

Disabled people from each state and preferably different regions of each state that would like to share current issues and information happening in their community. The terms of this section of the blog will be set by the people in it.

Religious or spiritual minority people that would like to share the current issues or information on their communities. Someone from each state and preferably different regions of each state. The terms of this community will be set by the people within it and people from multiple religious or spiritual backgrounds must all agree on these terms.

Historians or history loving people that would like to share southern history. (Please provide sources when posting)

Earth loving people that would like to share information on current issues or information on environmental or earth issues of the south. (Sources must be provided) These people will be responsible for posting on water quality issues, endangered species, air quality, potential natural disasters and preparedness, and energy. Students from majors related to these issues or issues like it are welcome but anyone is allowed as long as adequate sources are provided.

Someone to find southern based fundraisers and petitions going unnoticed to share on blog or reblog. (Can be multiple people)

Someone that can post evaluations of government spending from each state that evaluates their own state government. (Can be multiple people, must post sources)

Someone that can post evaluations or information on how and where to vote in southern states from each state and preferably regions from each state. (Must post sources) (“how” being the process of voting not who to vote for)

Someone to evaluate local, state, and federal southern politicians by sharing what they vote for or claims they make from each state and preferably from different regions of each state. (MUST provide sources/evidence)

Someone that shares southern activist groups fighting for queer, disabled, black and brown peoples, refugee and immigrant, and earth rights. (More types of activist groups fighting for different causes welcome these are just examples) These groups are preferably smaller or less known, or microregional.

Someone to comment on issues of class and poverty from each state and preferably people from smaller regions of each state. Sources are preferred but if speaking from personal experience of eyewitness experience then it’s okay to leave out sources.

Someone to give out information on upcoming protests and safety tips for protestors.

Someone to provide adequate captions to posts for disabled people. Someone to provide links to posts written in a different language. I know about the Gullah people because I learned about them in school and have been to where they live. They’re definitely other micro regional cultural groups like this that I don’t know of, and if you’re part of one of these groups you can and will also be given your own spot.

We will not except zionists. This is not a space that welcomes, supports, or condones Zionism.

I am not part of many of the groups I listed, so if I misspoke on something please let me know and I will fix it. People from multiple of the listed groups or groups to be added are welcomed and highly encouraged. At a certain point once we reach at least 5-10 people on this blog I would like to move it to other social media platforms. That being it will exist here AND on another site. The people that run this blog will have a communication system outside of it that will include everyone that runs it, there will also be smaller group communication systems for each subsection. The method of communication is up for decision.

GOOGLE FORM FOR JOINING

Southern States: Florida, Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Southern Virginia, and Southeastern Oklahoma.

I’m also looking for a southern artist or artists to make art for my profile and background photo. This art will be of a red wolf which is what the name of this blog is based off of. More on red-wolves here.

If you have tips on resources, issues, or information please message or ask me about it to inform me. You’re not burdening me by messaging me and your care for this region is important and honorable.

My main blog is @birdsbeesknees

This is a master source of resources and information classified into different topics:

Mvskoke

Fundraisers/Gofundmes

Education and Resources

Folklore of the Muscogee Creek People

Muscogee Nation Website

Visit Muscogee Nation

Mvskoke Media

Seminole

Fundraisers/Gofundmes

Gullah Geechee

Petition Beaufort county to protect Gullah Geechee culture on St. Helena Island

Alabama

Alabama Fundraisers

Alabama Activist Groups

Alabama petitions

Arkansas

Florida

Gofundmes/Fundraisers

Georgia

Gofundmes/Fundraisers

Petitions and resources

North Carolina

News

Small and minority owned businesses

South Carolina

News

South Carolina petitions and resources

Southeastern Oklahoma

Gofundmes/Fundraisers

Boycotting Tips

Chick-Fil-A

[mydonkeyfeet]

They're hoping for historic landmark designation. They're already on the National Register of Historic Places, but historical landmark designation would give more protection.

Just want to bring a little attention to some trouble on Georgia's barrier Islands where our last Gullah community is getting smothered by the government's encouragement of gentrification

Please share bc it's such a small community that will get no attention

[gentlegiantace93]

SoulAce Day 2026

Hey y'all, mark your calendars for SoulAce Day'26 .. February 16th, 2026 is a day for us African American Asexual folks to share and highlight our content from art to activism within Ace communities.

This day was created by me (Gentle Giant Ace), The Asexual Goddess, and YaGirlLici to highlight the intersectionality between Asexuality and the various cultures within the ethnicity that is African Americans (descendant of enslaved African folks taken to the states from the 1600s to the 1800s,fyi)...

Gullah Geechee and Asexual?

Affrilachian and Asexual?

Chicago Mississippian and Asexual?

Afro-Mississippian and Asexual?

Afro-Nova Scotian and Asexual?

Tidewater Creole and Asexual?

(examples)..

This day is for you to express yourself and how your content is influenced by your intersectionality.

[itsstillsweetiebythealtar]

If anybody seeing this is local. This is an upcoming event in relation to everything that has been going on!

If y’all can, please take the time to follow

https://instagram.com/protectsthelena?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

I’ve posted about the Gullah Geechee community before but I just want y’all to stay up to date on what’s going on, even if I don’t get a chance to post.

The Gullah Geechee community is fighting to preserve their community and the environment from multiple companies attempting to “build up” the area with golf courses and resorts when the Charleston area already has MORE THAN ENOUGH. Please follow this page and stay up to date on how you can help fight back.

[ausetkmt]

https://x.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/1703407420515442919?t=KZA9wU6ZOvHpoTyQobuXKQ&s=09

For over 230 years, Gullah-Geechee people called Georgia's Sapelo Island home County commissioners voted to remove zoning restrictions & to strike language stating it should prevent “land value increases which could force removal of the indigenous" folk

For more than 230 years, a small community of Gullah-Geechee people have called Sapelo Island off the coast of Georgia home. Hogg Hammock, the area on the island where these descendants of enslaved people live, is a 427-acre coastal community of 40 residents and has been designated as a historic site since 1996. That means that the construction of houses more than 1,400 sq ft and any road paving or demolition of property are strictly prohibited to preserve the island community.

On Tuesday, McIntosh county commissioners, who preside over Sapelo, voted to remove zoning restrictions in Hogg Hammock. Gullah-Geechee residents fear that wealthy transplants who want to develop larger homes and who could force a rise of property taxes there will displace them and upend their livelihoods.

The county, which is 65% white, has voted to remove official language that acknowledges Hogg Hammock as an area with “unique needs in regard to its historic resources”. It will also strike language that states it should prevent “land value increases which could force removal of the indigenous population”.

Last Thursday, dozens of residents gave hours of testimony to the county’s zoning board arguing against the proposed changes, warning that the county had hastily made changes without community consideration. Reginald Hall, a landowner whose family had roots in Hogg Hummock, told the Associated Press the county’s approval would amount to “the erasure of a historical culture that’s still intact after 230 years”.

Residents and state lawmakers called for the county to delay their vote and to reflect on proposed changes for 90 days. “We will not allow our cultural history to be erased or bought at the price of land developers,” the state representative Kim Schofield, who represents Atlanta, told reporters. “This is our history and our heritage, and we will fight to protect it.”

Hall warned the county’s vote to remove development limits would give Gullah -Geechee residents in Hogg Hammock just “two to three years at most” to survive in the county before they scatter elsewhere, as 200,000 Gullah-Geechee people have already done across the south-eastern corridor of the United States. “If you talk about the descendants of the enslaved,” she said, “90% of us will be gone.”

[ptseti]

The Gullah people are descendants of African slaves who live primarily on the Sea Islands and coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and parts of Florida and North Carolina. Brought to the region from West Africa in the 18th century for their agricultural expertise, especially in rice cultivation, they developed a unique culture influenced by their African heritage and isolation from the mainland due to the region's geography.

Their language, also called Gullah, is a Creole blend of English and various West African languages. It serves as both a functional means of communication and a cultural link to their African roots. Gullah culture is renowned for its vibrant traditions, including storytelling, spiritual practices, cuisine, and folk arts like basket weaving, which have been preserved over generations.

The Gullah culinary tradition—characterized by ingredients like rice, seafood, and okra—is a foundation of Southern soul food. Additionally, Gullah music, spirituals, and dance have significantly influenced broader African American culture.

Today, the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, established by Congress, protects and promotes Gullah heritage. Despite pressures from land development, the Gullah people continue to celebrate and preserve their history, representing a profound connection between African and American cultures.

[deehaus-sys]

Yayyy Haus Intro! (plus the text for the pictures!!!!)

*** Check blog intro post more details on us!***

Welcome welcome to Dee Haus!! Our DID-focused art blog! (A guide by Sibbin :))

Terms: (familiar term in quotations)

Haus: a black DID “system”

Famori: “alters” in de haus

Cooking/being in the kitchen: “fronting”

The term haus being used specifically for Black systems is not at all a thing, I’ont think. But our haus uses it for us, and as a system who is Black in de bodi and loves our kulcha and words, we would love to see it be claimed as that and invite any black-bodied system to do so!! We chose it because a lot of Black households use the term “house” instead of home I noticed, and then as we learned more about hoodoo and vodou, it turns out historic Black folk magic gatherings for protection were often in AAVE called the “haus” dey was under (like Marie Lavaeu haus) So if Haus is a place of protection and healing, what better a name for our system :) ((also: I'm not tryna limit haus' usage as a word only fa us since I know it exists in other languages too. But I long for our black community to have more words for us neurodivergent folx in it!))

Famori is combining two different words: family and ori, which is the Yoruban word for head, so head family! Not all systems are related to all their alters— but in Black families we tend to just call anyone we care about family, so I thought it’d work well.

We just call fronting cooking for some reason. Dass juss how our headspace came prepackaged, I guess? I think it’s because we often cook for the people we’re looking out for? I dunno, I think it’s cute.

Our names are also a mix of blaccent as well as Gullah Geechee english :) Sibbin is sibling, Bubba is brother, and Cuzzin is cousin. We aren’t all related like that and those aren’t our real names, but fa de blog dey cute.

Okey here de famori: (written from the pictures above)

Sibbin (they/them)

Sibbin is the main person to “cook”(front) in Dee Haus. They like making art and sharing messages. Also, Hello Kitty, Nintendo, and culture of any kind.

Fun Fact: doesn’t cuss ever

Creativity: +++

‘Tism: +++

Escapism: ++++

Confrontation: +

Panic Cooldown Rate: ++

Cooking skills: ++++

Bubba (he/him)

Bubba is the guardian of Dee Haus. He’s the most adventurous, and is much more punk attitude to protect (but he can be a big softie). He like making art & shopping.

Fun Fact: the only one who can drum IRL

Sass: ++++

Emo: +++

Doing stuff: ++

Confrontation: ++++

Panic Cooldown Rate: +++

Cooking skills: ++++

Cuzzin (they/he)

Cuzzin keeps “the books” (memory) in Dee Haus. They don’t like to “cook”, and don’t talk when they do. They like learning non-voiced languages, libraries, trees, and yellow.

Fun Fact: was the one who put us thru our kpop phase

Adulting: ++++

Remembering stuff: ++++

People: ++

Confrontation: +

Panic Cooldown Rate: +

Cooking skills: ++

Okee, I hope I explained everything well and made a good first impression, we’re all excited to share more and get to know folx :D

[haveyouseenthis-childhoodshow]

Have you seen this childhood show: Gullah Gullah Island (1994-1998), United States (English)

Commentary/Context/Memories: I actually saw the cast in concert, but my hyperactive self could not sit still, so I didn’t pay much attention. I feel so bad about it 😭

[Mod A: Awww please don’t feel bad about that! You were (likely) just a kid expressing your excitement in the way you knew best (unless you didn’t really want to go to the show). Concerts can be really hard to sit through as a kid regardless of if you’re interested in them or not! I also regret not really paying much attention to the Jonas Brothers (my first concert in 2008) bc I was not obsessed/had a crush on them the way my friend who took me had (should’ve been a sign I was gay in hindsight haha), even though I now think they had some great bops! Anyways back to the show: love the vibes of this show! I am normally creeped out by mascot costumes, but their friend Binyah Binyah Poliwog seems like a friendly lil frog! This show was a music-based show that aimed to educate kids about Gullah culture, who are an African American cultural community based along the coastline of North/South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and the Sea Islands that has a specific language and prominent arts/music culture because of relative isolation/shared African cultural heritage, the language is also known as Geechee (related to Creole). The show shared songs, art styles, dance, and stories important to the Gullah culture! I would like to learn more about this, because while I did know about Creole, I don’t know much about Gullah culture (so very glad to learn through researching this show!)]

[not-so-superheroine]

how did you come to join rlds/coc?

Sorry it took me so long to get to this question. I just knew it was a long answer.

I think my testimony gives a good idea, and i'll include . Because I felt the presence of God calling me to go join them is the overarching answer, but I can also give points that drew me in.

But in a few some points: 

I fell in love with the modern RLDS version of zion (and some of the old one too. nothing to do with israel.)

I saw they strived to be an inclusive place.

The Community of Christ's Enduring Principles are things I want to strive to live my life by.

The community made me feel very welcome and I saw people conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner

The community is very tight knit. society needs more of that.

Like, there is a certain behavioral affect (? cultural distinction?) that many members have that i thought was strange at first but it’s lovely. It’s kind, loving, and welcoming, and you adjust to it very quickly imo. Even to the lingo, which was a fun process. 

Continuing Revelation. Saw evidence of fulfilled prophecy in the Doctrine and Covenants and the spiritual growth in the church over the years

Continuing Revelation in general. I like that my faith is alive like that. We have prophets, God could reveal new truths for new scripture tomorrow. We are encouraged to be prophetic ourselves and discern the future together, i like that.

Also, no new scripture allowed in the mainstream? why not? does God still not talk in this way? great points in my head.

The communal aspect to everything is good. Just like how any sect of mormonism should imo The people i reached out to while seeking (investigating) were very kind to me and open to my questions. They were also there for me spiritually, and became friends. 

I could email leadership with questions and get responses. At one point, one of the church Presidents reached out to me. 

It’s academically welcoming. I was able to accept the book of Mormon as scripture when taught from a 19th century point of view. This, in turn, made me much more comfortable with the Bible. Community of Christ has an official statement on how to read scripture and there is scripture on how to think about and use scripture too.

I can even acknowledge when the history and the religious text don’t match. Because scripture doesn’t need to be historically correct to be sacred and hold an important message from the Lord.

Not really a reason but it is there: Joseph Smith III rocked and was intended to be next. It shouldn’t matter. But what does matter is that he set the church on a good path imo. Emma too. Out of all the early schisms of mormonism I would have to go RLDS belief wise, because Nauvoo era theology isn’t something I believe in. I think Smith got caught up in his own head and desires for much of it. No offense meant to post Nauvoo mormon sects.

This does not mean I haven’t picked some things up from Brighamites. For example, Trinity doesn’t work for me. And I pray to Heavenly Mother. I believe in one Divine source with many expressions. But that doesn’t mean “anything goes” and I accept it, just knowing that God speaks to people of many cultures all over, as the good book (of mormon) says.

But yes. This is why Community of Christ. Not that there are all common Community of Christ beliefs, but I thrive here spiritually and am encouraged to grow all the same.  Older testimony under cut that gives detail

I encourage y'all to watch this on video rather than just the text edited version i put here. not to be like "watch my talk on it" but please, watch my talk on the subject. I also talk about unity of the saints and what i have learned from other christians including other groups of latter day saints. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8w2M6PEKfg

I start giving my testimony and talk at 26:36

____________

I am Wednesday. Here I share a portion of myself and my testimony. At the time of this writing, I have lived 26 years. I am a Black woman of Gullah/Geechee ethnicity. I was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church, which I am extremely grateful for. My nascent spirituality was nurtured here. I learned the meaning of community and was immersed in my culture. I was taught to love and respect my Black self, in a society that would not be inclined to show me the respect and love any human deserves. I may have converted, but I was meant to be nurtured here. I am a Lesbian, and have experienced discrimination in faith communities due attitudes towards LGBTQ+ persons. I despaired over thoughts that God didn’t love me, and wondered if I would be condemned to Hell. In part because of this and being scolded for my questioning nature regarding God and church doctrines, I fell away from faith. I grew a lot in this away time, but didn’t really deconstruct my faith until 2021. My isolation in the pandemic gave me time for introspection. I would watch content from mainly atheist ex-christians who discussed their deconstruction journey. They were usually ex-evangelical or ex-mormon, and were really helpful to me for unpacking the mess that was my faith. Then something peculiar happened that changed the path of my life. Through the ex-mormons, I encountered the Restoration. There was something intriguing about it, and I wanted to learn more, so I did. I learned history, and the doctrine of different Latter Day Saint sects. I loved how innovative and “of the people” the early church was and how alive the faith seemed to be. I listened to members and ex-members, past and present, talk about their experiences within their faith communities and how they experienced the Divine. These were some of the worst years of my life, but there was something here that gave me hope. 

I came across an interview featuring John Hamer, in which he talked about Community of Christ as a home for those in faith transition. Many of the concerns I had about Christian faith communities were addressed. I craved such a spiritual home and became a seeker.

I asked many questions of missionaries, and my inquisitiveness was welcomed. I got myself an Inspired Version of the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and Book of Mormon. I was very impressed by the Doctrine and Covenants and found the contents to be Inspired and even prophetic, so I started attending Beyond the Walls services online.

One Sunday, the service was centered on the Worth of all Persons, Christian acceptance of LGBTQ+ persons, and the church in Tahiti. I listened to the members talk about their acceptance, their being guided by faith in Christ in the process, and how those things were compatible and complementary. The speakers affirmed God’s love and mercy for all. Their faith was strong, and they spoke with authority. Their Christ-like compassion was palpable. I felt what I now recognize as the Holy Spirit, come over me. After the message, the choir sang “Spirit of God like a fire is Burning” and I felt that fire burning in my chest and cried and praised the Lord for hours after.

My faith in God is stronger than ever. And my passion and belief in the Restoration bloomed.

[3rdeyeblaque]

This month in Hoodoo History: The Igbo Freedom Landing March

In May of 1803, 75 Igbo men & women chose freedom in death over a life of hell, spurring one of the largest mass suicides in the history of Maafa.

• In May 1803, a British slave ship called, The Wanderer, captured over a hundred Igbo men/women & other West Afrikan Peoples from present-day Nigeria and taken to Savannah, GA.

In Savannah, they were resold into Slavery to be worked to death on plantations along the Georgia coast. The price for each of their lives? $100. They were forcibly transported onto a ship called, the York that set sail for St. Simon's Island.

• During this voyage from Savannah to St. Simon's Island, 75 Igbo men & women rose up against their captors. They drowned the slavers, took control of the ship - grounding it in the Dunbar Creek.

At some point, the Igbo fled the ship. Led by their High Chief, a subset of the Igbo sang as they marched into a salt marsh of Dunbar Creek. One by one, they returned home in the face of a fate worse than death.

• This event that became known as, the Igbo Freedom Landing March, spawned enormous symbolism & folklore in the Afrikan Peoples and their descendants on this land. Many believe that the Freedom Landing and the nearby salt marshes in Dunbar Creek are haunted by the Spirits of the Igbo Peoples who drowned there. It is heralded as the first recorded Freedom March in U.S. history and has long since been a staple in Gullah-Geechee folklore, as the story of the Igbo Peoples who chose death over Slavery.

• Today, Igbo Landing is a nationally recognized historical site. It is located at Dunbar Creek on St. Simon's Island in Glynn County, GA.

• In September 2002, the Afrikan descendant community of St. Simon's Island, GA held a two-day commemoration of this event, including a procession to the salt marshes along Dunbar Creek where the mass suicide took place. They were represented by 75 Afrikan descendants across the country, Haiti, Brazil, & Nigeria. The attendees consecrated the site and did the collective work to elevate the restless Igbo spirits into healing and peaceful transition.