PorgyPorgy

Gullah Religious BeliefsGullah Religious Beliefs

ByBy

April S. BrownApril S. Brown

PorgyPorgy & The Gullah Culture & The Gullah Culture

The Gullah are a distinctive group of Black Americans The Gullah are a distinctive group of Black Americans from South Carolina and Georgia in the southeastern from South Carolina and Georgia in the southeastern United States.United States.

The Gullah people are directly descended from the The Gullah people are directly descended from the slaves who labored on the rice plantations, and their slaves who labored on the rice plantations, and their language reflects significant influences from Sierra language reflects significant influences from Sierra Leone and the surrounding area. Leone and the surrounding area.

Heyward captures the Gullah culture and the richness of Heyward captures the Gullah culture and the richness of its people in his novel, its people in his novel, PorgyPorgy..

Images of the Gullah PeopleImages of the Gullah People

Images (con’t)Images (con’t)

““A Peculiar People: Slave Religion and A Peculiar People: Slave Religion and Community---Culture Among the Gullahs”Community---Culture Among the Gullahs”

““Both Islamic and traditional African religions, similar to Both Islamic and traditional African religions, similar to Christian spiritual belief, adhered to a kind of Christian spiritual belief, adhered to a kind of monotheism” (52). monotheism” (52).

““Evil came from other sources, not the creator” (52).Evil came from other sources, not the creator” (52). ““Supernatural causation of suffering, disease, accidents, Supernatural causation of suffering, disease, accidents,

death under obscure circumstances, and other death under obscure circumstances, and other misfortunes was a core of African thought” (56).misfortunes was a core of African thought” (56).

Gullah Religious BeliefsGullah Religious Beliefs

Gullah people’s religious beliefs are a mixture of Gullah people’s religious beliefs are a mixture of Christianity and African beliefs.Christianity and African beliefs.

Followers of the Gullah religion believe in the teachings Followers of the Gullah religion believe in the teachings of Christianity, but they also subscribe to some of the of Christianity, but they also subscribe to some of the pagan traditions of the their African ancestors.pagan traditions of the their African ancestors.

Heyward portrays the Gullah religion through his Heyward portrays the Gullah religion through his depiction of the daily lives of the residents of Catfish depiction of the daily lives of the residents of Catfish Row. Row.

Excerpts from Excerpts from Porgy Porgy

Pg. 32---”De’ las’ man in de grabe-yahd goin’ tuh be de nex’ one tuh git buried.”

Pg. 83---“How come yuh ain’t ax me fuh pray ober um?” Pg. 85---”…an’ tell she tuh mek a conjer tuh cas’ de

debbil out Bess.” Pg. 122---”…the scourging wrath of the Gods---white,

and black.”

Analysis of Gullah Religion & Analysis of Gullah Religion & PorgyPorgy

Some critics argue that Heyward's use of religion in Some critics argue that Heyward's use of religion in Porgy causes readers to stereotype African AmericansPorgy causes readers to stereotype African Americans

Other critics contend that Heyward’s approach allows Other critics contend that Heyward’s approach allows readers to view the African American characters of readers to view the African American characters of Porgy as multi-dimensional Porgy as multi-dimensional

Thinking ExerciseThinking Exercise

Pair up with a partner and share your Pair up with a partner and share your thoughts about Heyward’s use of thoughts about Heyward’s use of religion in Porgyreligion in Porgy

Works CitedWorks Cited

Creel, Margaret W. Creel, Margaret W. A Peculiar People: Slave ReligionA Peculiar People: Slave Religion

and Community---Culture Among the Gullahs.and Community---Culture Among the Gullahs. New New York University Press, 1988. York University Press, 1988.

Heyward, DuBose. Heyward, DuBose. PorgyPorgy. University Press of Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi

Jackson, 1925.Jackson, 1925.