SC Governor candidate Mullins McLeod discusses Gullah Geechee preservation

BEAUFORT, Sc. (WTOC) - Democratic gubernational candidate Mullins McLeod hosted a roundtable in Beaufort this afternoon, discussing his plans to protect the Gullah Geechee culture in South Carolina. His main goal is to keep the community thriving, despite the growing development of coastal cities in the area.

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved on coastal plantations - dating back to the late 1600’s. After the Civil War, their isolation on the Sea Islands created a tight-knit and vibrant culture, unique to the Lowcountry.

With the rapid development of coastal cities such as Beaufort and Charleston, the Gullah Geechee community faces challenges - rising taxes and pressure from developers. McLeod stresses the importance of preserving their culture and history.

“You will not find a community that’s more faith-based than they are. You will not find a community who loves God’s green earth more than they do. You won’t find a community who cares more about their neighbors and their way of life than they do. And they really, the truth of the matter is, they set an example for all of us. And so for me, as our state governor, I’m going to do everything I can to preserve and protect the Gullah Geechee community.” said McLeod.