Climate change threatens the Gullah Geechee community and culture

The Gullah Geechee individuals are descended from enslaved individuals who lived on the southeastern offshore islands, stretching from southern North Carolina to northern Florida. Isolation from land allowed the Gullah Geechee people preserving many West African traditions, including language, food, art and spiritual practices.

Marquetta “Queen Quet” Goodwine is a historian, environmental justice advocate, and leader Gullah Geechee Nation. In 2019, Queen Quet testified before Congress that climate change threatens the preservation of Gullah Geechee traditions, which include lucrative fishing, crabbing and farming. She asked members of Congress to offer funding to construct infrastructure to guard shorelines from erosion.

“Every part of what we do is to ensure our survival as native Gullah Geechees and the survival of our traditions,” said Queen Quet NBC News.

The owner is Tia Clark Casual crabbing with Tia in Charleston, South Carolina. She said higher temperatures have resulted in the lack of crab habitat. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the state recorded a record low level variety of blue crabs in 2023

“It terrifies me to think that our resources are gone because of climate change,” Clark saidNBC News.

In 2023, the Biden administration committed $15.5 million to assist protect greater than 41 million acres of lands and waters in the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to support projects that support diverse and underrepresented populations most impacted by climate change.” – Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo – he said at a press conference.

NOAA will spend $536,000 to rent latest staff to assist construct relationships between restoration organizations and the Gullah Geechee Association. These federal programs will help fight climate change, which is able to help protect and preserve the wealthy history and culture of the Gullah Geechee community.