Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Religion
Differences in religious beliefs may mark certain people as being “other” and nullify propensity to
interact with them and adopt their cultural attributes. Religion may also manifest prohibitions (such
as bikinis and beer) that deter exchange of materials and ideas.
Race and ethnicity
Many people have a deep “consciousness of kind.” In some cases, that is code for racism and preju-
dice — a desire to be geographically separate from “them.” In others, it may simply be a deep-seated
preference for interaction with one's own kind. In any event, race and ethnicity tend to differentiate
human groups — often very visually — and give rise to behaviors that limit interaction.
The geography of Gullah
Gullah
is a dialect spoken by African Americans of the Sea Islands, which adjoin the
coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. Closely related to an ancestral language (or lan-
guages) that arrived with enslaved Africans,
Gullah
is spoken not by people who learned
it to get in touch with their African roots, but instead by folks who never lost those roots
in the first place.
The geography of
Gullah
is a classic example of physical barrier effects. After emancip-
ation, most of the black population of the Sea Islands stayed there, and for decades the
islands largely remained unconnected by bridges to the mainland. The result was limited
physical interaction with outsiders and mainstream culture. Under those circumstances
Gullah continued as a viable language.
But times are changing. The Sea Islands, with their seaside settings, have become prized
real estate for vacation homes, retirement communities, and resorts. Bridges now con-
nect the mainland to many of these islands. As newcomers come and development phys-
ically transforms the islands, so, too, will they bring culture change that will threaten the
continued existence of Gullah.
Historic events
Sometimes historic events, suchasconflict andwar,mark apeople as“the enemy” andcreate wounds
that refuse to heal. Intense dislike — if not raw hatred — of one group for another can be a powerful
barrier to human contacts that would normally promote cultural transfer.
