Gullah/Geechee Lineage & Legacy Symposium at Penn Center Heritage Days 2025

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Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black is a direct descendant of a formerly enslaved man who liberated himself after the Battle of Port Royal, joined the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers (34th Regiment USCT), and fought in the Combahee River Raid and Africans enslaved on rice plantations in Colleton County, SC. Since an early age, she has been curious about her grandparents “peculiar” speech patterns. Her mother’s historical and genealogical research was her first inkling of Gullah as both a rich language and culture with its peculiar history. Her desire to reclaim her family’s history and culture has taken her to the rice fields of Sierra Leone and Republic of Guinea in West Africa, South Carolina and Georgia.

Fields-Black is a specialist in the transnational history of West Africa rice, peasant farmers in the pre-colonial Upper Guinea coast and enslaved laborers on antebellum Lowcountry South Carolina and Georgia rice plantations. She is author of "Deep Roots: Rice Farmers in West Africa and the African Diaspora" and co-editor of "Rice: Global Networks and New Histories." She is executive producer and librettist of “Unburied, Unmourned, Unmarked: Requiem for Rice” (with three-time EMMY™ Award-winning classical music composer, John Wineglass). Fields-Black has worked as a consultant at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the International African American Museum, and the Senator John Heinz History Center. She and her family live in Pittsburgh, where she teaches history at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as Director of the Dietrich College Humanities Center.

Dr. Amir Jamal Touré is a distinguished historian, educator, and cultural advocate renowned for his dedication to preserving and promoting Gullah/Geechee heritage. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, his family's roots in the Lowcountry trace back generations, deeply embedding him in the cultural fabric of the region.

Dr. Touré holds a Juris Doctor degree. His academic pursuits are complemented by his role as the founder of Day Clean Journeys, an African-American history tour company offering immersive experiences throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina. A passionate educator, Dr. Touré is celebrated for his engaging tours and presentations that delve into Pan-Africanism and Gullah/Geechee culture.

Dr. Touré is actively involved in community advocacy, using platforms like his weekly "Gullah Observations" broadcasts to address historical and contemporary issues affecting the Gullah/Geechee Nation. His commitment to education and cultural preservation has earned him numerous accolades.

Dr. Touré's multifaceted work continues to inspire and educate, ensuring that the rich history and culture of the Gullah/Geechee people remain vibrant and accessible to all.

Dr. Gina Paige is the co-founder and president of African Ancestry, Inc., a pioneering company specializing in genetic ancestry tracing for individuals of African descent. Established in 2003 alongside geneticist Dr. Rick Kittles, African Ancestry offers DNA testing services that identify specific African countries and tribes of origin, providing a more detailed understanding of African heritage compared to other ancestry testing companies.

Dr. Paige's inspiration for this venture stemmed from her family's dedication to preserving their history. Recognizing the challenges Black Americans face in tracing their lineage due to historical erasure and systemic racism, Dr. Paige aimed to bridge this gap through genetic testing.

Under her leadership, African Ancestry has developed the world's largest database of African genetic lineages, encompassing over 33,000 African reference samples. This extensive database enables the company to provide precise ancestral information, tracing maternal and paternal lines to specific African tribes and countries.

Dr. Paige is also committed to privacy and ethical standards; African Ancestry does not sell or share customers' DNA data, distinguishing itself from other companies in the industry.

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