Gullah float to premiere in Inauguration Parade

Michele Obama

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The Gullah-Geechee culture of American slave descendants is to be honored for the first time with a float in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. 

The Gullah, who live in the Lowcountry region South Carolina and Georgia, have preserved much of their African linguistic and cultural heritage. They speak their own English-based creole language. 

The float aims to bring new attention to the culture, of which many were ashamed as late as 20 years ago and often tried to hide their roots. Known as Gullah in the Carolinas and Geechee in Georgia and Florida, the culture has, however, seen a big change in public perception. 

Among famous African-Americans with Gullah roots is Michele Obama, the wife of Barack Obama who is to be sworn-in to his second term as the President of the United States.