The Gullah are a community that lives in the coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, where they fish and farm. The Gullah's ancestors can be traced back to Charleston, South Carolina, where there was a port for the Atlantic slave trade, which was the most commonly used port in North America. Gullah is “more than just the language and name of a people. It encompasses the essence of struggle, spirituality, perseverance and tradition” (South Carolina Business and Industry). Their relatives are West Africans who have suffered many hardships and who are honored and remembered by a rare preservation of the African culture that the Gullah keep alive. The Gullah truly live by the following meaningful words: “If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you're coming from” (US State Department). They use African names, perpetuate African folk tales and create African crafts. The Gullah have been able to maintain their African heritage because they are isolated from other influences due to the isolation of the islands from the sea. Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon accurately describes the Gullah as a productive community where Pilate joins and discovers his true individuality. Pilate's life journey is a collection of places she visited because of her love for geography and her habit of collecting stones during her various visits. She becomes curious about a group of people who live off the coast of Virginia while she is on the mainland. Pilate becomes independent and self-sufficient because at one point she lives and works on the coastal islands off the coast of Virginia with the Gullah people. She recognizes that the island's inhabitants "do not mix much with other blacks, but [are] respected by them" (Morrison 146). Pilate appreciates this...... middle of paper...... belatedly. Pilate was nonviolent and chose the Gullah to guide her to independence and happiness. Guitar will not feel accomplished and have no self-respect during the Seven Days. He needs to find a positive community where he feels welcome and where he can honor his sick father without having to take revenge on anyone. Morrison, Tony. Song of Solomon. New York: Vintage Books, 1977. Print.2. South Carolina Business and Industry. “Gullah in South Carolina.” Gullah SC. Member of the Better Business Bureau of South Carolina, nd Web. April 9, 2010. .3. US Department of State. “Once threatened with extinction, American Gullah culture now thrives.” America.gov. Np, February 18, 2010. Web. May 26, 2010.20100217163730GLnesnoM0.1222498.html>.