Charleston was a city founded upon slavery. The economy was driven by slave labor and more Charleston residents owned slaves then in any other city in the country. Charleston was the largest colonial port for incoming slaves and many of the slaves that came into the United States came through Charleston. Because of this, Charleston also had the largest African and African American population of any city in this country. For most of its existence, people of African decent have equaled or outnumbered those of European decent within the city and also within South Carolina as a whole. Charleston is also significant because as the largest slave port in the United States it brought together people from all parts of the western coast of Africa. This caused the blending of different African traditions that helped to shape the distinctive Gullah culture that still exists until this day.

KUM BA YA -- means 'Come By Here' in Gullah Click the door to enter