Abstract

Even with the success of the American Preservation Movement and National Trust, most preservation efforts in the United States are focused on sites with patriotic significance favoring the nation’s dominant culture and overlook protecting the land and culture of minorities and indigenous populations (Stradling, 2003). The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore, through the lens of the Critical Race Theory, the extent to which, if at all, race, racism and environmental injustices impact the preservation efforts of members in the Gullah-Geechee community. This study also explores what programs and activities, if any, that members of the Gullah-Geechee community who preserve history and culture of the community, as well as those that educate others about the community, perceive as having the most positive impact on cultural preservation and the eradication of cultural preservation inequalities. By examining the semi-structured interviews of 10 cultural preservationists and educators in the Gullah-Geechee community, the researcher gathered common themes to provide gather information to bring awareness to race-related challenges in cultural education and preservation initiatives.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dissertations (EdD) -- Organizational leadership; Gullahs; Cultural property -- Protection -- United States

Date of Award

2019

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Education

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Leigh, Doug;

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