Book

Catching sense: African American communities on a South Carolina sea island

Bergin & Garvey • Westport, Conn. • Published In 1996 • Pages:

By: Guthrie, Patricia.

Abstract

This is a very readable account of Gullah community life. Guthrie discusses how social identity is derived from the actual experience of growing up, specifically ages 2 thru 12, a process locals call 'catching sense.' Guthrie goes on to show how this designation defines rights to land, residence, and household membership. She makes a case that this particular kind of identity formation, one not based exclusively on kinship, had its roots in the slave era when families were uprooted and separated, for example children of slaves given away as house presents. Instead of kinship, learning communal values and relationships became the criteria of group membership.

HRAF PubDate

2000

Region

North America

Sub Region

Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 2005

Field Date

1975-1992

Coverage Date

1920-1994

Coverage Place

St. Helena Island, South Carolina, United States

Notes

Patricia Guthrie

Includes bibliographical references (p. [125]-135) and index

LCCN

94036623

LCSH

Sea Islanders/African Americans--South Carolina--Saint Helena Island--Social life and customs/Saint Helena Island (S.C.)--Social life and customs/Gullahs