This collection of scholarly articles and personal reminiscences presents a well-informed and appreciative survey of the life and culture of the predominately African American population of the Sea Islands.

Contents: Paul Salter, "Changing Agriculture Patterns on the Sea Island", William Bascom, "Gullah Folk Beliefs on Childbirth", George Starks, "Singing 'bout a Good Time: Religious Music on the Sea Islands", Bamidele Agbasegbe Demerson's, "Family Patterns on Wadmalaw Island," Simon Ottenburg, "Leadership Patterns in a Sea Island Community" and Keith E. Baird, "Naming Practices on the Sea Island".
William C. Saunders, "Growing Up on John's Island: Sea Islands Then and Now", Janie Gilliad Moore "A James Island of Charleston, South Carolina", J. Jackson, S. Slaughter and Herman Blake, "The Sea Islands as a Research Area", Mary Arnold Twining, "Baskets and Quilts: Women in the Sea Islands Arts and Crafts", Baird and Twining, "Names and Naming in the Sea Islands", Twining and Baird, "Sea Island Culture: Matrix of the African American Family", Guy Carawan, "Christmas Watch on John's Island" and Twining, "Time is like a River: The World View of the Sea Island People."