Presentation Notes: McIntosh County Shouters at the Library of Congress

Event Introduction

• Hosted by the Library of Congress and American Folklife Center.
• Featuring the McIntosh County Shouters, a group performing traditional Gullah Geechee Ring Shout.
• Acknowledgment of support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kennedy Center.

Gullah Geechee Culture and Ring Shout Tradition

• Origin & History:

  • Ring Shout traces back to the Civil War, rooted in West African traditions.
  • Practiced by descendants of slaves from Georgia and South Carolina coastal plantations.
  • Tradition discovered to be unique to the McIntosh County Shouters in 1980.
  • Gullah Geechee communities faced displacement due to coastal development.

• Cultural Significance:

  • Preserves the history and culture of Gullah Geechee people.
  • Ring Shout involves counterclockwise movement, shuffling, and singing.
  • Themes include biblical stories and reflections on slavery and freedom.

Performance Highlights

• Songs and Shouts:

  • "Stay in the Field" – Reflecting the perseverance of slaves.
  • "John on the Island" – Expressing empathy among slaves.
  • "Blow, Gabriel" – Focusing on the day of judgment.
  • "Read 'Em, John" – Signifying the reading of a freedom letter.
  • "I Know I've Been Changed" – Acknowledging personal transformation.

• Cultural Narratives:

  • Shouters perform in traditional cotton dresses, emphasizing authenticity over perceived sophistication.
  • Slavery conditions included being fed leftover meats, which were creatively transformed into meals.

Group Members and Roles

• Key Members:

  • Freddie Palmer - Lead singer and songster.
  • Harold Evans - Stick man, controls rhythmic pace.
  • Elsie Scott & Brenton Jordan - Baser and clapper, maintaining rhythm.
  • Venus MacGyver, Alberta Salins, Rebecca Wallen, Carolyn Palmer, Carlita Sullivan - Shouters.

• Performance Context:

  • Group emphasizes educational role, particularly during Black History Month.
  • Performances throughout the US, including schools and churches.

Concluding Remarks

• Invitation:

  • Encouragement to experience Watch Night services at Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
  • Acknowledgment of Reverend Anthony Harris.

• Final Performance:

  • "Adam and Eve in the Garden" – Reflecting biblical stories through song.

• Farewell Song:

  • "Farewell, Alaska" – Closing the performance with traditional farewell.

Note: These performances and narratives aim to educate and preserve the Gullah Geechee heritage through the unique art form of Ring Shout.