11/08/2024
Consider the problem of Gullah land loss here on Hilton Head Island and why it is happening.
At one point over 3,500 acres were owned by Gullah families on Hilton Head Island. Recent estimates suggest that acreage is now less than 900. Traditionally Gullah families did not possess a will or deed to their property and had no formal way to transfer ownership to their descendants. It simply became “heir’s property.” Today, more than a century later, hundreds of Gullah heirs may lay claim to a property that lacks any clear legal title of ownership.
Property handed down for generations is in jeopardy with no legal documentation.
Luana Graves Sellers took the subject head on. What’s the fair and ethical next step to correct a long unaddressed issue once and for all? It won’t be easy but it must be as fair as empathetic reason will allow.
Ms. Sellars is a journalist, community activist, educator, preservationist, and documentary filmmaker dedicated to preserving Gullah culture, history, and people. She owns Sankofa Communications and is the founder of the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation.
Contact Information:
lowcountrygullah.com
[email protected]
843-715-3506
