Nassau BOCC declares Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week July 25-August 1, 2020

From The County Insider
Office of the Nassau County Manager
June 25, 2020

6/23/20 @ 10:15 a.m. – At the meeting last night, the Board approved a Resolution No. 2020-113proclaiming the week of July 25-August 1, 2020, as “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” in Nassau County, Florida.

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved on the rice, indigo, and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic Coast, including Nassau County, Florida. The African people populated what is now Old Town in Fernandina Beach, as well as O’Neil and Nassauville, working at the ports, oyster factories and farms. They have made many great contributions to Nassau County and their architectural skills can still be seen today at historic institutions in eastern Nassau including Mount Olive Baptist Church and Prince Chapel AME Church in Nassauville, Franklintown United Methodist Church at American Beach and New Zion Baptist Church, First Missionary Baptist Church,Trinity United Methodist Church, and Macedonia AME Church on Amelia Island.

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation attended the meeting virtually for the reading of the Proclamation, presented by Chairman Danny Leeper. District Two Commissioner, Aaron Bell, congratulated Queen Quet on their celebration of 20 years since declaring themselves as the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week is held annually the last week in July. This year’s theme is #GullahGeechee2020.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager’s Office

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Mark Tomes
Trusted Member
Mark Tomes(@mtomes)
3 years ago

Now there is a great example of a monument to build!