Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Theresa Hilliard of Mama Doonk’s Gullah is a retired Equal Employment Opportunity/ Diversity Manager, and author of Mama Doonk’s Gullah Recipes (first and second editions) and A Guide to Charleston’s African American Historical Markers. She is a Gullah storyteller/lecturer, artist in residence, historian, certified tour guide, and past interpreter at the Old Slave Mart Museum. Theresa grew up in the Gullah culture on Edisto Island. She is an expert in the Gullah language and culture and uses her expertise to engage her audience throughout her presentations. She will explain how the Gullah language was developed, who the Gullah-Geechee people are and where they lived. Theresa incorporates a show and tell segment centered on items she grew up with before the modern conveniences of today and shares the history and stories of the Gullah dishes featured in her books. She will discuss how spirituals were used amongst the enslaved people to communicate as well as sing some old Negro Spirituals. She will share some history on how Charleston, SC, began, and the contributions Gullah people made in the building of America. By the end of this presentation, students will be familiar with the Gullah language, how and why Africans came to the United States, and the challenges they encountered. Students will have knowledge of medicines, foods, and other methods of their survival. She will speak and interpret the Gullah language. Theresa has been featured in National Geographic Video Magazine, The Post and Courier, Charleston Magazine, Upscale and Essence Magazines, West Of, Charleston Inside Out, Garden and Gun Magazine, and Black Southern Belle, among others. She has also appeared on Fox 24 News and Lowcountry Live television shows, WCIV News, Quinton’s Closeup; ABC News 4 and Keeping it Krystal Klear. She has given presentations at festivals, Morris Museum, the State Museum, Art Galleries, Brook Green Gardens, public and private schools across South Carolina, Presentations in Florida, and Massachusetts, and many other venues. She is a recipient of the Contribution to MOJA Award. She is an Artist in Residence, member of the Charleston Gospel Choir and Lowcountry Voices and serves on the MOJA Arts Festival Planning Committee and past officer for her neighborhood association. She is available for assemblies, workshops, residencies, and virtual presentations. For more information, visit www.mamadoonk.com.

Artist Statement

I have been telling Gullah Stories and doing presentations to students, visitors to our city, corporate events, Festivals, Museums, City events and so much more. This is my contribution to keeping the Gullah Culture alive and passing this rich culture on to future generations. This is my passion talking about growing up with my Gullah Grandmother and living the culture. Gullah is not just a word with no meaning; it is a lifestyle, a language, our beliefs, our medicines, the way we cook, what we eat and much more. We must preserve this history. I wrote a Recipe book of the foods of the Gullah people. Every person of Gullah ancestry and those interested in learning our history should own a copy. The foodway was, and still is, an important part of our culture. Every celebration include food back then and it’s still an important part of our culture today. It’s about reaching out and sharing, and getting to know our lineage, and all that we can from those who came before us. Knowing our ancestry holds the key to knowing those who came before us. I have made a commitment to never stop sharing and learning.