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The Gullah Geechee Community
Protection and empowerment of one of the most unique cultures in America, the Gullah Geechee community, is vital to the Lowcountry. The Gullah Geechee history of enslavement, resistance, and dedication to public service is embodied through Robert Smalls, my great-great-grandfather. Like his ancestors, I intend to give the Lowcountry every opportunity to thrive.
I am prepared to champion the Gullah Geechee community in Congress, and that begins with proposing an exception that will allow the community to place its land in a federal trust under a fee-to-trust land acquisition. This process would provide federal protection for Gullah land, leaving it free from burdensome property taxes and predatory developers that force Gullah people from their biggest cultural asset.
I will also advocate for federal funding stemming from the historic, bipartisan legislation passed under the Biden-Harris administration. Between the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, billions of dollars in federal grants are currently untapped. On day one, I will fight for funding under these bills that would provide coastal protection from climate change, empower Gullah farmers, and safeguard coastal habitats.
As your Congressman, I am ready to fight for Gullah inclusion in government programs that could create generational change. Federal programs such as the USDA’s Community Forest Program and Regional Conservation Partnership Program include opportunities to reacquire cultural land and create communal benefits, but only if your representative is willing to fight for it in Washington, D.C. For example, the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program provided over 1 billion dollars in funding last year, and the Gullah community received nothing. As a businessman, the economic empowerment of the Gullah community will be a priority under his leadership.
