Geechee

Without too much of a history lesson, a Geechee or Geechie person is someone of a Gullah descent. Gullah is the mixture of the English and African languages, that was spoken by slaves who were required to learn English, but still didn't want the masters to know exactly what they were saying. However, unlike the Gullah link indicates, Gullah was actually widespread along the coast. It may have originated in Charleston, but there are many gullah civilizations located right in Beaufort, SC. The Geechee language is the derivative of Gullah, that has a creole, southern, and carribean twang to it. It still chops up the English language like Gullah, allowing someone to say more with less words, or eliminate excessive mouth movement. The Geechee language plays a large part in the culture, which is better left for a definition to itself. The largest, active Geechee culture is located in Charleston, SC and it's surrounding areas. A fact many people don't know is that to be called Geechee was once viewed as a derogatory remark. Today it is a proud title embraced by Charlestonians and others alike, and celebrated through such festivals as Moja Arts and Spoleto. There also used to be a booth in the Northwoods Mall of N. Charleston, that sold the clothing line, Geechee Gear. More history can be discovered with a simple Google search. Although there's not enough people to make it a noticeable presence, the Geechee culture does stretch down the southern coast, touching Beaufort, SC, Savannah, GA, and other cities/towns down into Florida. The most similar relation to a Geechee accent is that of the Caribbeans (though not nearly as strong) or New Orleans.