Essay Database

The film, Daughters of the Dust, written and directed by Julie Dash, recounts the story of the Peazant family. They are members of the Gullah people, a tribe living on a group of islands off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina in 1902 who are descended from slaves, but have still managed to keep much of their West African culture alive. The story begins as all the members of the Peazant family gather together for …

…was his disconnection with the old ways. Once he had been returned to his roots, all the problems he had with the old ways and with his wife simply melted away. In fact, Eli is affected so much by this re-acquaintance with his ancestors, that in the end he elects not to move to the mainland at all. Now, like Nana Peazant, he embraced the heritage that before he was so eager to escape from.