THIS EVERYDAY LIFE

Now In Charleston Well I am now in Charleston. Kind of beat but hustling and ready to see some sights. Earlier today my host steered me to Sullivan’s Island. There he advised I would be able to view one of the most historical sites in the Southeast. Not only did the fortifications serve the colonists admirably during the colonists during the War for Independence, upgraded facilities allowed the Island to be used during the Civil War as a defense and offensive battlement by both Union and Confederate forces. It was from here that Union forces retreated to Sumter Island. After their retreat Confederate forces manned the fortifications for their use. Use them they did, for it was from this site that the Confederates fired on Ft. Sumter, instigating the War Between the States. The original fort on the Island took its name from the island itself. As time went on the Fort became know as Ft. Moultrie. Ft. Moultrie defended against the British in the war of 1812. As in the War for Independence the site made a very courageous stand for the Americans. It was used off and on as a Coastal Defense site, only becoming inactive after World War II. Presently the site is a museum that located both indoors and out doors. The indoor portion houses historic paraphernalia regarding the fort’s sojourn from one period to the next. The outdoors of the museum is a living replica of the fortified sites starting with Fort Sullivan’s usage against the British and continuing through the various roles that its replacement, Ft. Moultrie played. The site is a very good look-see back into times when such fortifications played a key role in this country’s coastal defense. For those interested in history Sullivan Island is a must see. As an African American I was (lets face it) more interested in the site as it pertained to existing as a port for incoming captives from Africa, that were destined to be slaves in this young country. People that would suffer the indignities organic to being a slave since the first time someone figured out the value of enslaving human life. Judging from historical accounts that occurred, when man first came into full awareness that he imagined there were differences between him and others, both on an individual basis and as a group. I will not delve into this for fear of becoming emotional. My best advice to you is to view the accompany slide show. Pay close attention to the plaque regarding Sullivan Island as a slave port. After leaving Sullivan Island I realize I’d not eaten anything except a pack of Nabs since getting out of bed this morning. Before leaving home this morning my friend advised me of a restaurant nearby Sullivan Island that served up tremendous Gullah dishes. Took a little doing on the part of my traveling companion, weeding out direction solutions, but we finally made it. As a matter of fact the name of the restaurant is Gullah Cuisine. It is located in Mt. Pleasant. A small suburban town adjacent it seems to Sullivan Island. My friend advised that the place had knock down, drag out, authentic Gullah foods. But I got to tell you, I don’t take the guys recommendations on food as Gospel. Heck he has been known to eat anything. After arriving at the restaurant and a quick look around I noticed two rave reviews from food editors of the New York Times and the Washington Post regarding the fare. Gotta tell you, it sure smelled delicious in there. Okra Gumbo, she crab soup, Shrimp Gumbo, and a myriad of dishes I hadn’t had in years. Not only did they have buffet but also a menu for the more discerning diner. I choose the buffet, you see in that way I could taste a little of everything. The food was delicious and service was way above par. Didn’t seem as if the young lady would never stop refilling my sweet tea glass. To make a long story short, people I ate far more than I am used to. Doggone if I didn’t get sleepy. Great meal! Definitely recommend the place. Had to drag myself out of the place but it was time to move on to Charleston. First stop was the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. It is affiliated with the College of Charleston and it houses numerous research topics regarding the African American experience. Topics that range from the Middle Passage to the present day. It is located at 125 Bull St. Visitors are warmly greeted with a video detailing the Institute’s history and a tour of its facilities. It is a must visit for the serious student of African American studies. Let me change that it is a good visit for anyone desirous of finding out more about African American History and the contributions of African Americans to the American culture. But for the new visitor, beware of the lack of parking facilities. The Institute has very very limited parking spaces and it is located in a restricted parking for residential area, which means that visitors can only park on the street for intervals of one hour. So if you go there with researching on your plate, it may be better to find a pay lot and hoof it to the Institute. The good thing about inner city Charleston is the many historic sites situated in what I assume is the downtown area. The Denmark Vassey house is also within walking distance, but the place I want to visit is the slave Mart Museum, located at number 6 Chalmers St. After getting there and finding out there was an admissions charge, I also discovered that I hadn’t visited the ATM machine after the fine lunch at Gullah Cuisine. As it was getting close to closing time, I guess I’ll return tomorrow. Let me emphasize that Charleston is a beautiful and historic city and my blog will continue after I have visited the Slave Mart Museum. Good bye for now.