Book

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

Bergin & GarveyWestport, 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.
Subjects
Cultural identity and pride
Settlement patterns
Real property
Slavery
Household
Community structure
Informal in-group justice
Congregations
Transmission of cultural norms
Majority
culture
Sea Islanders
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