SOUTHPORT, N.C. (AP) — A four-state commission working to preserve the culture of slave descendants on the sea islands along the nation's southeast coast is holding its meeting in North Carolina.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission meets Saturday in Southport south of Wilmington.
During the meeting the commission will discuss its work to preserve the sea island culture found in communities running from North Carolina to northeast Florida. The corridor is one of almost 50 heritage areas nationwide and was established by Congress a decade ago.
The culture is known as Gullah in the Carolinas and Geechee in Georgia and Florida. It has its own creole language, history, cooking and crafts and is a culture based on fishing and farming.