Charlotte Forten’s Arrival on St. Helena Island: A Cultural & Culinary Adjustment

Throughout the year we host programs we call “Gullah Campfire Suppers with Stories and Songs”.  They are history programs that showcase African American history, our foodways, traditions, and songs of different time periods. In October we celebrate the arrival of Charlotte Forten to St. Helena Island to serve as a teacher at the newly founded Penn School.

“Charlotte Forten Grimke was a Philly, Pennsylvania Black woman, poet, abolitionist, teacher, and diarist.  As a freed Black woman in the mid-late nineteenth century Forten’s pedigree was one of privilege in her day.  To add to the rarity of her social class Charlotte was also from a wealthy Black family (her grandfather was a successful sail salesman) of influential socialite abolitionists who and associated with prominent figures of the day.  ‘Forten's paternal aunt Margaretta Forten worked in the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society along with her sisters Harriet Forten Purvis and Sarah Louisa Forten Purvis. Forten's grandparents were Philadelphia abolitionists James Forten, Sr. and his wife Charlotte Vandine Forten, who were also active in the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society.’ (Civil War Talk)” [JourneySoulfully]

Ms. Forten was from an elite, highly educated, upper class Black family in Philadelphia. She arrived on St. Helena Island, Tuesday, October 1862 to a totally different environment. She was close to her own people newly freed and to a food tradition that was completely new to her. Come hear what that was like and taste the culture! We will celebrate Charlotte Forten’s life and dedication to serving her people.  Hear her poems and journal entries, hear the songs she loved from the sea islands, and gain a sense of her appreciation for the arts and nature.  Be enchanted by the scenery while seated around our crackling campfires under moss draped and truly magnificent live oaks.  We will also celebrate our new smoakhouse built by Tony and his Uncles.    The aroma of the farm to table supper will be wafting in the evening air.  The meal will feature meats from our smoakhouse, produce grown and meats also raised on the farm as well as from other Lowcountry, Gullah outlets.  Vegetarian dishes will be included.   There is a space on the event registration form to inform us of any dietary limitations or food bourne allergies.  

In the event of inclement weather our "rain date" is Saturday, November 4, same time.