On a recent springtime Sunday in historic Charleston, South Carolina, I introduced myself to Annette Howard and her family. Annette is a longtime teacher who is native to the Charleston area. She belongs to an African American subgroup called the Gullah, who have their own unique culture & Creole language that descended from enslaved West Africans in the Carolina & Georgia coastal region.
We had a candid conversation about the massive number of people relocating to this charming coastal city--particularly from northeastern states like New York and New Jersey--and how their arrival in Charleston and South Carolina in general has impacted the local economy, quality of life, and culture in positive and negative ways. Annette loves her hometown, and she and her aunt proudly describe southern hospitality and manners.
She and her husband, Fred, also address the history of racial segregation in South Carolina, specifically how African Americans, including her parents, were shortchanged adequate educations, among other injustices. Ultimately, as first members of their families to attain higher degrees, as successful career people, and as parents & grandparents of college graduates, she & Fred personify the power of intelligence, discipline, and knowledge.
22 май 2024
