Proven Free — Peoples Blog — Proven Sustainable

Posts in Proven Free

“This is a creole culture and what it takes is a great ability to adapt and a willingness to do so, and still hold on.”

“This is a creole culture and what it takes is a great ability to adapt and a willingness to do so, and still hold on.”

Natalie Daise (nah-tah-lee dayz), story-teller, artist

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PRBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“If you can’t hold onto the land, you can’t hold onto the culture.”

“If you can’t hold onto the land, you can’t hold onto the culture.”

Jabari Moketsi (jah-bahr-ee moh-ket-see), publisher Gullah Sentinel newspaper

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PRBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“Mine is a living culture, not one of some 200 years ago. It's a culture that continues to shape our surroundings.”

“Mine is a living culture, not one of some 200 years ago. It's a culture that continues to shape our surroundings.”

Ron Daise (ron dayz), singer, culture preservationist

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PRBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“We must tell our stories and govern our own community as our foreparents did. We know that 'empty sak cyan stan upright lone.’”

“We must tell our stories and govern our own community as our foreparents did. We know that 'empty sak cyan stan upright lone.’”

Marquetta L. Goodwine (Queen Quet) (mahr-ket-tah el good-wine kween kwet), preservationist

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PRBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“The Gullah…had existed without the need for cash. Everything the Gullah people needed was done by them, among them, and you might say in coordination with the entire community.”

“The Gullah…had existed without the need for cash. Everything the Gullah people needed was done by them, among them, and you might say in coordination with the entire community.”

Emory Campbell (em-more-ee kam-bull), micro-biologist, activist

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“With Gullah Geechee people we created and preserved our language under the threat of death for being literate.”

“With Gullah Geechee people we created and preserved our language under the threat of death for being literate.”

Sunn m'Cheaux (sun mih-show), Gullah language teacher

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“Let us remember we descend from folks who…manifested freedom when everything else said otherwise.”

“Let us remember we descend from folks who…manifested freedom when everything else said otherwise.”

Sara Makeba Daise (sah-rah mah-kee-bah dayz), Cultural History Interpreter

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“We are one, bound by the spirit of an island and Bilali the slave. Bound by high tide, fields, gossip, smoke mullet and our faith.”

“We are one, bound by the spirit of an island and Bilali the slave. Bound by high tide, fields, gossip, smoke mullet and our faith.”

Cornelia Bailey (kor-nee-lee-yah bay-lee), story-keeper, historian

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Gullah/Geechee, Gullah/Geechee - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 22, 2021Gullah Geechee

“We try to teach our children the culture and remind them that they can be great. We stick to our heritage and we intend to carry on as free Maroons as long as the world exists.”

“We try to teach our children the culture and remind them that they can be great. We stick to our heritage and we intend to carry on as free Maroons as long as the world exists.”

Sidney Peddie (sid-nee ped-dee), Colonel Accompong Maroons

Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PR, Proven Resilient, Proven FreeBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“Cudjoe (18th century maroon freedom fighter) was taught and observed that the land the maroons occupied belonged to all of them and its amicable distribution and use must be perpetuated.”

“Cudjoe (18th century maroon freedom fighter) was taught and observed that the land the maroons occupied belonged to all of them and its amicable distribution and use must be perpetuated.”

Milton MacFarlane (milll-tun mick-far-lane), author

Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PR, Proven Resilient, Proven FreeBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“Indigenous women in Jamaica live a role model lifestyle to redirect African people to a real image of compassionate family life, a unit that was totally intentionally destroyed in slavery.”

“Indigenous women in Jamaica live a role model lifestyle to redirect African people to a real image of compassionate family life, a unit that was totally intentionally destroyed in slavery.”

Gaama Gloria Simms (gah-mah glaw-ree-yah seems), Paramount Queen of the Maroons

Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PR, Proven Resilient, Proven FreeBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“How can we preserve our culture and maintain our future? That's the first question we all need to ask ourselves.”

“How can we preserve our culture and maintain our future? That's the first question we all need to ask ourselves.”

Marcia Douglas (mar-shah dug-lass), Colonel, Charles Town Maroons

Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PR, Proven Resilient, Proven FreeBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“If you chop that branch, it’s filled with water that the Maroons would drink…This is why, when we cut a tree, we plant another one to replace it.”

“If you chop that branch, it’s filled with water that the Maroons would drink…This is why, when we cut a tree, we plant another one to replace it.”

Lloyd Wilks (loyd wilks), Jamaica's consul general at Toronto

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“We make drums the same way our ancestors did 200-300 years ago. We play the same rhythms, the same songs that record the history of our ancestors.”

“We make drums the same way our ancestors did 200-300 years ago. We play the same rhythms, the same songs that record the history of our ancestors.”

Wallace Sterling (wahl-lass stir-ling), Colonel Maroon Council

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“Fight in the morning, fight in the day and fight in the night. There ain’t no giving in. In true maroon determination, doggedness and defiance, we will win.”

“Fight in the morning, fight in the day and fight in the night. There ain’t no giving in. In true maroon determination, doggedness and defiance, we will win.”

Nichole McIntosh (neh-kole mak-in-tosh), nurse, poet, blogger

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“Africans who refused to be enslaved said, "Oh no. We insist to have the right to practice our African centered way of life as we see fit and we do not need a slave master over us.”

“Africans who refused to be enslaved said, "Oh no. We insist to have the right to practice our African centered way of life as we see fit and we do not need a slave master over us.”

Nana Farika Berhane (fah-rick-ah beh-hahn), author and poet

Proven Free, Proven Sustainable, Jamaican Maroons, Jamaican Maroons - PSBlog Post AuthorMarch 18, 2021Jamaican Maroons

“There is a lot of love inside the Vodou. It is our heart and blood. So we will not back down. We have an important and strong force with us. Without it, we could not exist today.”

“There is a lot of love inside the Vodou. It is our heart and blood. So we will not back down. We have an important and strong force with us. Without it, we could not exist today.”

Ougan Ricardo Marie Dadoune (ree-car-doh mah-ree dah-doon), priest

Proven Free, Vodouists, Proven Resilient, Vodouists - PRBlog Post AuthorFebruary 22, 2021Vodouists

“I see my role as a human rights activist and as a Manbo Asogwe (high priestess) as one…to help to literally conjure memory, so that our sense of self and sense of place is restored.”

“I see my role as a human rights activist and as a Manbo Asogwe (high priestess) as one…to help to literally conjure memory, so that our sense of self and sense of place is restored.”

Manbo Asogwe Dòwòti Désir (doo-what-tee day-seer), high priestess

Proven Free, Vodouists, Proven Resilient, Vodouists - PRBlog Post AuthorFebruary 22, 2021Vodouists

“We retained the language and the religion (of Africa) so both could serve us. I would say like two scissor tips cutting the skin, they could cut the chains of slavery.”

“We retained the language and the religion (of Africa) so both could serve us. I would say like two scissor tips cutting the skin, they could cut the chains of slavery.”

Ati Max Beauvoir (ah-tee max bow-vwahr), Supreme chief

Proven Free, Vodouists, Proven Resilient, Vodouists - PRBlog Post AuthorFebruary 22, 2021Vodouists

“I worship my ancestors. They were free people in Africa, minding their business. Invaders came and took everything from them. The only thing they brought with them was vodou.”

“I worship my ancestors. They were free people in Africa, minding their business. Invaders came and took everything from them. The only thing they brought with them was vodou.”

Manbo Beatrice Daleus (bee-ah-triss deh-looz), priestess

Proven Free, Vodouists, Proven Resilient, Vodouists - PRBlog Post AuthorFebruary 22, 2021Vodouists