Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861-1956

by Thomas C. Barnwell Jr., Emory Shaw Campbell, NOT A BOOK

The Gullah culture, though borne of isolation and slavery, thrived on the US East Coast sea islands from pre-Civil War times until today, and nowhere more prominently than on Hilton Head Island, SC. On this small barrier island descendants of the first generations of Gullah people continue to preserve Gullah language, customs, arts, and cuisine. The three authors of Gullah Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861-1956 are among those descendants, and in this book, they chronicle the amazing history of their secluded community from the Civil War through the 1950s, when real estate development connected Hilton Head Island to the mainland with a bridge.The history of these Gullah islanders, little celebrated until now, is an amazing American story. Hilton Head Island was one of the first areas liberated by Union troops after Fort Sumter. With plantation owners absent, the society of formerly enslaved Gullah people embarked on the activities of enlisting in fighting for the Union army; creating the first black-governed community in the South, complete with a police force; and, when formal emancipation arrived, running for office, campaigning, and voting.This book illustrates in vivid detail the story of that vibrant post-Civil War era and the tangled perils of Reconstruction that followed, along with all of the progress and setbacks of African Americans in the South over 150 years via the lives of Gullah Hilton Head Islanders. Authors rely on the historical records and amazing first-person accounts they have gathered from their relatives and other community members to tell this riveting story.

Genres: History

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2020

Reviews

[Kathy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book with an unbelievable amount of history about the Gullahs on Hilton Head Island. I was really impressed with the first hand accounts of life on the island between 1861 and 1956.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 stars. I liked learning about this community during this specific time, and I'm happy this book exists and was written by people whose ancestors helped form the Gullah community on Hilton Head Island. What I wasn't crazy about was how repetitious this book ended up being. It is divided into two parts; one broad historical summary, another a collection of testimonies from residents. Sadly, both parts overlapped alot and so I found myself reading the same material over and over in different parts of the book. It slowed me down and demotivated me. Still happy I read it because this community has a fascinating history and it isn't as well known as it should be.

[George K. Frimpong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical account of the Gullah people of the sea islands

This is an interesting account of the history of the Gullah people and culture on Hilton Head and surrounding islands beginning just before the civil war and into the 1980s. I am impressed by the resilience and resourcefulness of the former slaves and never knew Hilton Head island was the first enclave of freedmen in America - this should be taught as part of American history. I gave the book 4 stars because some of the same stories are repeated a few times. The book could have been shorter. I will recommend this to anyone who truly wants to learn about the entirety of American history.

[Meleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book immediately after a trip to Hilton Head, and wish I would have read it before the trip. I learned so much from this book and have already recommended it to several friends. I do agree that some information was repetitive. The information about the various Gullah communities was really interesting - a diagram or map would have been helpful to include. Overall, this was a great read that I recommend.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so interesting to read about a place you know superficially and to learn about it intimately from those who made it into a blended culture of Africa and America. Strength, fortitude, knowledge displaced but recreated to suit another land. The power of family and tradition to rewrite a landscape and a people.

[Hotspur · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and well-written history of Hilton Head Island. It is rare to find a local history that is well-written, well-sourced, and so comprehensive. Its a rather remarkable journey of a self-sufficient Gullah community that lived mostly isolated from the outside world for so long, and is now an upper middle class resort.

[Zac West · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re interested in the Gullah people and their history you will love this book. It’s full of personal accounts and stories that have been passed down through generations. I’d pair it with a visit to the islands to see for yourself.

[Jenny]

Very Informative Book

I’m really glad I found and read Gullah Days. Very informative and important book and so glad the authors preserved this history of these great people.

[Kim]

p. 1 - 74 (Chapters 1 - 7) Antebellum - 1865
Some of the best history writing I've ever read! Absolutely brilliant, richly-detailed look at the history of the Gullah islands through the end of the Civil War, and how its inhabitants survived that war and the beginnings of their precarious freedom when the Union Army first arrived.

Two minor criticisms: (1) Esther Hill Hawks wasn't just a teacher, or just the wife of a regimental surgeon, she was also a doctor! (2) I was bummed that the Battle of Sol Legare Island was excluded from the book, but maybe that was in anticipation of the book James Williams IV is working on, or a need to prioritize Hilton Head for this book.

... will circle back to read another chunk of chapters after I get some other reading done!