Lena Simmons

Southern Naturally, Culture, Nature, History Lena Simmons

Southern Naturally, Culture, Nature, History is a bilingual (Spanish and English) photo essay, The photo essay illustrates how the people adapt to the biological, and cultural aspects of a changing environment and ecological realities in the South. The research will discuss the ideas about the Southern culture, society, and environment, the interaction that sustain and supports the population. Rice was the wealth crop of South Carolina for more than 100 years. Rice represented the complex relationship between exploitation of natural resources (slaves and Sea Islands), social tradition, political and global economics. Rice declined as a cash crop due to competition, technology, and ecological reality. The marsh of the Sea Island could not support heavy machinery(technology). The Sea Islands such as Hilton Head and Tybee have evolved from Rice production to Tourism. Beach homes, resorts, cover the land mass of Hilton Head Island. Tourism has replaced Rice as a tool for economic prosperity. The book will discuss the ecological realities with the Islands and Tourism. Rice wealth was based upon the skill set of West and Central African Slaves. These West and Central African persons resided on the islands after the demise of Rice. These people evolved into the Gullah Geechee nation. The "exploitation of natural resources has become a nation. Southern Naturally, Culture, Nature, History explores the ideas about the interaction of the Culture, Nature, and History of the South within the medium of a photo essay.