For some Furman students, their recent visit with Ron Daise was an introduction to Gullah Geechee culture.<\/p>\n
For others, it was also a chance to meet and sing with the star of one of their favorite childhood television shows, \u201cGullah Gullah Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daise, vice president for creative education at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, S.C., traveled to Furman last week to share a unique program of sing-alongs and storytelling called \u201cGullah Geechee Connections.\u201d<\/p>\n
His visit was sponsored by the Furman University National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives in Student Life (DIISL).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to give students the chance to learn something new about Gullah Geechee culture and come to more fully appreciate another part of South Carolina history,\u201d said Noah Trotter \u201919, a communication studies major from Douglasville, Ga., who helped organize the event.<\/p>\n
Daise, a native of St. Helena Island, S.C., was awarded the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto in 1996 and the State of South Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1997. He and his wife, Natalie, starred in the musical children\u2019s television series, \u201cGullah Gullah Island,\u201d on the Nickelodeon network from 1994 to 1998. The show was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award as an Outstanding Pre-School Children’s Series.<\/p>\n
Like the book he wrote with the same name, Daise gave students lots of “Gullah Tings Fa Tink Bout.\u201d He shared a spirited collection of stories and original poetry showcasing his personal heritage. He also provided a snapshot of the history of Gullah Geechee communities in South Carolina and drew connections with the people and traditions of tribes in Ghana and Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program made me think more deeply about discussions about race we\u2019ve had in my philosophy class,\u201d said Jada Wilson \u201918, a health science major from Rock Hill, S.C. \u201cI really enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was truly an honor to host Mr. Daise on campus, and was sort of nostalgic for me. I remember watching \u2018Gullah Gullah Island\u2019 as a kid in southern Ohio and being in awe. With vibrant scenery, and infectious sing-alongs, this show showcased an important yet overlooked part of African-American culture,\u201d said Deborah Allen, Furman\u2019s associate director of student activities for diversity engagement.<\/p>\n
More than a dozen events celebrating Black History Month took place\u00a0on Furman\u2019s campus including:<\/p>\n