Penn Center

#tbt
Annual family photo shoot ❤️ #blackhistorymonthinspired #blackhistorymonth #penncenter #sthelenaisland #targetblackhistorymonthselection target #targettshirts #soul #blackisthenewblack #ourancestors denolispolitephotography thank you for capturing these beautiful moments 😌 ...

• Lowcountry •

Girls Trip 2021 - We explored the Sea Islands, Beaufort, and Port Royal. We stayed in the town where Harriet Tubman led the union forces and freed over 700 enslaved people. We saw two church ruins that are well over 200 years old. We visited the Penn Center where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gathered with other civil rights activists. The same place that was the first school for formally enslaved individuals in the United States and where he wrote a portion of his “I Have A Dream” speech. We explored the very area that is the heart of the Gullah culture and learned so much about the history of the Gullah Geechee culture. On our very last day, we even got to eat authentic Gullah food at The Gullah Grub.

The humidity was painful but the sights were stunning, the people were kind and welcoming, and the entire area was rich with history.

#lowcountry #seaislands #gullahgeechee #gullahgrub #penncenter #portroyal #beaufortsc #girlstrip ...

Have you heard of The penncenter? This historic site on St. Helena Island, South Carolina is a place that everyone should know about. It was the first school in the South for formerly enslaved West Africans, a community center supporting the Gullah people, and a safe haven where Martin Luther King, Jr. created some of his most renowned work.

It was powerful to visit this magical place where former slaves created a space and community for themselves that still thrives today. It’s a place that’s filled with pride and the accomplishments of people who would not be stopped. I got to stand on the sacred site where Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “I Have a Dream” and made plans for the March on Washington.

Taking in the history and stories of these people deeply moved me. I love that St. Helena Island is still mostly owned by the Gullah people. Their strength, determination and sense of identity inspire me.

I encourage you to go experience the Penn Center for yourself and learn the history of the Gullah people firsthand. You can also support the preservation of this history by donating directly.

#penncenter #blackhistory #mlk #respect #inspiration #Gullah #lowcountry ...