Queen Quet and De Gullah Conneckshun met with faculty and students from Ohio Southern in the Bowman Auditorium April 11, 2002. Queen Quet, insisting on audience participation, lead an interactive presentation featuring music, dialogue, and dramatic performance unlike anything offered before at Ohio Southern.

Queen Quet appeared to enjoy performing for the collective audience, with lively and entertaining music provided by De Gullah Conneckshun. The audience was totally captivated with an incredibly talented group performing songs, skits, and dramatic pieces designed to inform people about Gullah culture.

A featured portion of the socio-historical performance was an open forum, an opportunity for students to ask questions about Gullah culture and language. Question and answer exchanges were informative, fun, and challenging for students in attendance.

Dr. Jarrett and Dr. Lucas invited their students to attend and note their reactions in narrative form. Dr. Lucas' students have complied their comments in a written manual, now part of a display on the first floor of the Riffe Center at Ohio University Southern.
The public is invited to 'stop by' and enjoy the display on Gullah culture and language.

Dr. Jarrett's students have completed written reactions as partial fulfillment of course requirements at Ohio Southern. Several students have given their permission to place their comments on display with this official web site. OUS student pictures and comments are provided below:

Dina Morrison

Question - What immediate impressions have you formed of the Gullah/Geechee people?

Answer
"The Gullahs seem to be very joyous people, very prideful of their heritage and traditions. Queen Quet was beautifully dressed and seemed very honest and direct in her approach to the audience. I loved every moment of the presentation!"

"It was interesting to learn Gullah language is an oral tradition, a way of passing along the history of Gullah/Geechee people to younger generations. As Gullah language is lost, the history and past cultural heritage is lost."

Ava Ashley

Question - What immediate impressions have you formed of the Gullah/Geechee people?

Answer
"The Gullahs appear to be very spiritual people! I loved the music, singing, and interactive nature of the presentation. Queen Quet is very lively, direct, and humorous. Although the topics were of a serious nature, I appreciated the humor and respect directed toward the audience."

"Queen Quet is a very intelligent and educated individual. The fact that Gullah people are family oriented and believe love is a more powerful emotion than hate leads me to believe their culture will survive."

Bob Vinson

Question - What have you learned about Gullah/Geechee culture from today's event?

Answer
"People are often mislead by stereotypes. I'm not sure what I expected, but I was surprised to learn Gullah people were into modern living. The Gullahs were colorful, expressive, and family-oriented people. I was impressed with their spirituality and zest for life! "

"There is a need to examine the issue of land loss. Gullah culture seems to be a culture tied to the land, so with the loss of land comes the loss of culture. I support Queen Quet in her attempt to educate the public about Gullah lifestyles in a contemporary world."

Paul Vernier

Question - What have you learned about Gullah/Geechee culture from today's event?

Answer
"Gullah culture has been passed down in songs, stories, and traditions. I thought it was interesting to learn about their skills with agriculture, their abilities to grow rice, cotton, and indigo in the Sea Islands. To the Gullahs, their land is the most important commodity and must be protected from the encroachments of developmental tourism in South Carolina."

Brian McKee
President, Los Amigos Internacionales

"It was certainly my pleasure to be associated with the visit of members of the Gullah/Geechee Nation to Ohio University Southern Campus. The members of Los Amigos Internacionale are proud to serve as official liaison between the Gullahs and members of our community in Ironton, Ohio. I wish Queen Quet and De Gullah Conneckshun a pleasant and rewarding visit to Ohio. I will remember their visit always!"