ABSTRACT
The Gullah of the Sea Islands of South Carolina and the Georgia coast were the product of forced migration during the Atlantic Slave Trade. Despite the involuntary circumstances of their migration, they have maintained a distinct cultural heritage that reflects not only their particular African ethnic origins, but their cultural adaptations to New World communities, especially through language, folklore, and crafts. Gullah linguistic traditions are infused with African expressions, evidence of an Africanized English, which has been linked to Sierra Leonean creole and various African languages. Gullah language, culture, and folkways can be found in a variety of sources, including oral tales, literary works, and films. The African retentions of the Gullah can be found in an overview of the formation of their society.
