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Amanti Art Funeral Procession Framed Art Print
Amanti Art Funeral Procession Framed Art Print
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HBCU’s Canvas Print
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RING SHOUT GULLAH ISLANDS – UNFRAMED PRINT ON CANVAS WORLD MENAGERIE
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35″” x 35″” Juneteenth by Synthia Saint James Canvas Art Print – Masterpiece Art Gallery
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‘Beyonce’ Graphic Art Print on Wrapped Canvas Size: 18″ H x 26″ W x 1.5″ D
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Dancing in The Living Room (Girls) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
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MASTER PIECE LESSONS GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 35X35
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A Different World (TV) 11 x 17 TV Poster – Style A
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LEROY CAMPBELL CAREFREE HAND SIGNED AFRICAN AMERICAN ART
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Yes. Jesus Loves Me (Religious) – Katherine Roundtree 16×20 Black Framed
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MASTER PIECE GATHERING GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 30X40
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MY KIND OF NET ART PRINT BY GULLAH LIVING SERIES BY SAMANTHA CLAAR – X-LARGE
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Goddesses by Synthia SAINT JAMES Canvas Wall Art 3 Piece
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35″ X 35″ GULLAH GEECHEE CONJURE WOMAN BY SYNTHIA SAINT JAMES CANVAS ART PRINT – MASTERPIECE ART GALLERY
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GULLAH IMAGES: THE ART OF JONATHAN GREEN
The Goodbye Kiss (Buffalo Soldier) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
The Goodbye Kiss (Buffalo Soldier) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
227 – TV SHOW 80’S CLASSIC SHOW PRINT, GIFT FOR BEST FRIEND, FOR MOM, HOME DECOR, BLACK ART POP ART, FEMINIST
227 – TV SHOW 80’S CLASSIC SHOW PRINT, GIFT FOR BEST FRIEND, FOR MOM, HOME DECOR, BLACK ART POP ART, FEMINIST
GULLAH GEECHEE HERITAGE IN THE GOLDEN ISLES (PAPERBACK)
GULLAH GEECHEE HERITAGE IN THE GOLDEN ISLES (PAPERBACK)
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Gullah Spirit: The Art of Jonathan Green
(27×40) Eve’s Bayou Movie Samuel L Jackson Lynn Whitfield Original Poster Print
(27×40) Eve’s Bayou Movie Samuel L Jackson Lynn Whitfield Original Poster Print
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MASTER PIECE JOOK JOINT GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 35X35
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America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Narrative History, 1837-2009
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Brown Sugar Kitchen Cookbook
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Black Girl Baking: Wholesome Recipes Inspired by a Soulful Upbringing
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GULLAH DAYS: HILTON HEAD ISLANDERS BEFORE THE BRIDGE 1861-1956
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Gullah History: Son Documents Mother’s Return to New Cut Plantation

Gullah History: Son Documents Mother’s Return to New Cut Plantation

Dentist-entrepreneur Shawn Mitchell is first and foremost Mattie and Edward Mitchell’s son – one of six sons known as “The Mitchell Men.” Edward, a retired longshoreman, instilled a love for God, family and commitment to goals with Mattie, a schoolteacher who worked as a seamstress in off hours. The Mitchells also raised their sons with a strong sense of community service. Mitchell family values led Shawn Mitchell and his five brothers – Edward, Kevin, Ryan, Julian and Trevor – to attend and graduate from SC State University and pursue graduate and professional studies. 

Gullah History: Son Documents Mother’s Return to New Cut Plantation

Gullah History: Son Documents Mother's Return to New Cut Plantation

Mrs. Mattie Mitchell taught them about Gullah history and Black historical figures like Denmark Vesey as well as the nuances of Gullah culture such as the meaning of the Palmetto Rose, which is prominent in the brothers’ SweetGrass Clothing Company brand and in Shawn Mitchell’s dental practice logo. In fact, it is the Palmetto Rose (watch crafting here), made from sweetgrass leaves, that moved Shawn and his brothers to form the clothing company as a way of furthering its significance as a symbol of love and protection in the Gullah community. Because of her, the family has observed Kwanzaa for over 30 years, and assisted with an annual Black History Bowl hosted by Mrs. Mitchell, a graduate of Claflin University and proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. As a result of all that she instilled in them, she has the distinction of being “The Mother of SweetGrass Clothing,” as both a muse (their Denmark Vesey Insurrection Jacket is dedicated to her) and an authentic Gullah voice. 

Gullah History: Son Documents Mother's Return to New Cut Plantation

In one of the most touching tributes to their mother, Shawn wrangled family members and they took her back to New Cut Plantation on the New Cut River, where she grew up on Wadmalaw Island (the movie “The Notebook” was filmed there). Enlisted to help tell the plantation’s story are island historian Frank Murray, Mrs. Mitchell with her siblings and descendants of former owner Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Mitchell’s father, John Mack, Sr., was a sharecropper on the land. She left in 1970 to attend college and the family moved off the land. Shawn Mitchell served as writer and director of the documentary, Our return to New Cut Plantation: A family’s journey to a not so distant past, and Junior Ray contributes the soundtrack.  

The tributes don’t stop with Mrs. Mitchell. They continue with the wonderful SweetGrass Artisan Series, which features interviews with fourth and fifth generation sweetgrass basket weavers/sewers and small business entrepreneurs. A great part of the Mitchell Men’s SweetGrass brand is its visual interest coupled with history. Subscribe to the SweetGrass Clothing Company’s YouTube channel (@sweetgrassclothing) to watch other videos produced by the company. More videos can be found on their Facebook page. Follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (@sweetgrassclothing) for collection announcements, pop-up shopping, collaborations and upcoming community-centric events. Lastly, don’t forget to SHOP SweetGrass!

youtube.com/watch?v=rlYclVo3Ylc

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Robin Caldwell

Robin Caldwell is the blogger behind freshandfriedhard.com and academic researcher focusing on Black history, heritage and culture. Public historian primarily in Black American historical foodways: antebellum and regional.

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Robin Caldwell

Robin Caldwell is the blogger behind freshandfriedhard.com and academic researcher focusing on Black history, heritage and culture. Public historian primarily in Black American historical foodways: antebellum and regional.

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Shop Our Favorites!
LEROY CAMPBELL CAREFREE HAND SIGNED AFRICAN AMERICAN ART
Gullah Spirit: The Art of Jonathan Green
35″” x 35″” Juneteenth by Synthia Saint James Canvas Art Print – Masterpiece Art Gallery
‘Beyonce’ Graphic Art Print on Wrapped Canvas Size: 18″ H x 26″ W x 1.5″ D
HBCU’s Canvas Print
A Different World (TV) 11 x 17 TV Poster – Style A
(27×40) Eve’s Bayou Movie Samuel L Jackson Lynn Whitfield Original Poster Print
Yes. Jesus Loves Me (Religious) – Katherine Roundtree 16×20 Black Framed
Dancing in The Living Room (Girls) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
The Goodbye Kiss (Buffalo Soldier) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
Amanti Art Funeral Procession Framed Art Print
Goddesses by Synthia SAINT JAMES Canvas Wall Art 3 Piece
227 – TV SHOW 80’S CLASSIC SHOW PRINT, GIFT FOR BEST FRIEND, FOR MOM, HOME DECOR, BLACK ART POP ART, FEMINIST
MASTER PIECE LESSONS GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 35X35
GULLAH IMAGES: THE ART OF JONATHAN GREEN
GULLAH GEECHEE HERITAGE IN THE GOLDEN ISLES (PAPERBACK)
MASTER PIECE JOOK JOINT GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 35X35
MY KIND OF NET ART PRINT BY GULLAH LIVING SERIES BY SAMANTHA CLAAR – X-LARGE
35″ X 35″ GULLAH GEECHEE CONJURE WOMAN BY SYNTHIA SAINT JAMES CANVAS ART PRINT – MASTERPIECE ART GALLERY
RING SHOUT GULLAH ISLANDS – UNFRAMED PRINT ON CANVAS WORLD MENAGERIE
MASTER PIECE GATHERING GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 30X40
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