3/27/2011 4:00:00 PMCMSD students learn about Gullah culture, ancient West African art form

Cleveland, Ohio— This week, students at seven Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools will learn about the Gullah culture and the making of sweetgrass baskets. 

Brothers Antwon and Jermaine Ford, master sweetgrass basket makers from Charleston, South Carolina, will discuss the Gullah culture and demonstrate how sweetgrass baskets are made.  Students will learn to make their own baskets.  

As part of a Teaching American History grant, History Connections, the history teachers who invited the Ford brothers to Cleveland have all traveled to Charleston to study African American history and culture. 

On Monday, March 28, the Ford brothers will be at the Galleria from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  At noon, SuccessTech Academy students will walk to the Galleria with teacher David Kachadourian to take part in the program.  

The Ford brothers will visit Cleveland schools four days this week and will also hold workshops on Tuesday, March 29 at John Hay High School.

About the Gullah

The Gullah are African Americans who live in the Low County region of South Carolina and Georgia. They are known for preserving their African linguistic and cultural heritage, including the coiled sweetgrass baskets art form. Sweetgrass basket making was brought to this country in the late 17th century by West Africans who adopted the traditions of their homeland by using available indigenous materials to make baskets needed for work on rice plantations.

About Teaching American History

Teaching American History is a federally funded program that supports projects that raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history. The idea is to help teachers develop the knowledge and skills so they can teach traditional American history in an exciting and engaging way.

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