Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine

August 2021 Issue - Hear Me Roar


Queen Quet
Marquetta L. Goodwine

Chieftess and Head of State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation
and Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition

Hometown: St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation
Current Residence: Gullah/Geechee Nation

“I da Queen Quet, head pun de bodee of de Gullah/Geechee Nation. I live the mission of keeping Gullah/Geechee culture alive in the Gullah/Geechee Nation daily. GOD gave me the vision to unite and uplift Gullah/Geechee folks worldwide and I have focused my energy on doing this via my organization, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition (www.GullahGeechee.net) which:
• Advocates for the rights of all Gullah/Geechee people around the world.
• Promotes and participates in the preservation of Gullah/Geechee
history, heritage, culture and language.
• Works toward Sea Island land re-acquisition and maintenance.
• Celebrates Gullah/Geechee culture through artistic and educational
means electronically and via grassroots scholarship.”

What is the origin of your name and what is your role as Queen Quet? The origin of the second name I have been given in this life originates from my birth name. I was enstooled as a Queen Mother and spiritual leader, as well as political leader, of the Gullah/Geechee Nation on July 2, 2000. At this time I was renamed "Queen Quet" as a part of that historic ceremony at Sullivan's Island, S.C. I am the first Queen Mother for Gullah/Geechees.

You have accomplished so much for the Gullah/Geechee Nation, tell us what you feel has been your most meaningful moment/accomplishment? My most meaningful moment was the day of my enstoolment when Gullah/Geechees from the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida came together to stand on our human right to self-determination, and a year long election confirmed me as the spokesperson and elected leader for the Gullah/Geechee Nation. It showed that my people believed in the work I had already been doing for decades, and that they trusted I would be an effective leader for decades to come. Having the trust of my people has been a tremendous accomplishment!

What are you working on now? There are not enough pages in Pink to write out all of the things I am working on now! So, I will keep it simple. I am working on what GOD has directed me to work on for the past four decades—Gullah/Geechee cultural continuation on the land that we own from Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL. That work includes ensuring environmental sustainability, resiliency and Gullah/Geechee self-sufficiency.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future of Gullah/Geechee Nation? My hope is to see complete unity in the Gullah/Geechee Nation. There have been numerous entities and parties that have been attempting to work against that because of the power that we have when Gullah/Geechee stand united and own our land, bodies and intellectual property and realize that we have a right to protect our human rights. So, I pray that my people will rise above the assimilation, indoctrination and miseducation and stand proudly as citizens of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

What do you want the world to understand about the Gullah/Geechee Nation? The world needs to understand that the Gullah/Geechee Nation is a NATION like other nations of the world. We are not an organization! Also, we binya and ain't gwine nowhey! To link directly to us, people should follow www.GullahGeecheeNation.com.

Tell us about your international missions. My international missions have been vast, and they have truly been blessings! There are many more to come so that the work on the United Nations level will continue and the relinking of the Gullah/Geechee Diaspora is fulfilled. Currently, I am focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and I am continuing the international work from my home base due to the pandemic. I am also a part of the Climate Heritage Network, which is an international organization focused on ensuring the continuation of cultural heritage in the face of climate change. The work that I am doing at the international level is now informing the work on the ground in the Gullah/Geechee Nation, as well. I am currently engaged in providing input based on the knowledge and expertise I have gained via my international missions in a number of 30x30s and resiliency planning efforts.

How can people get involved or help? Anyone who wants to ensure the continuation of Gullah/Geechee culture can become a member of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition via www.GullahGeecheeLand.com or www.GullahGeechee.biz. Donations to the Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy Fund can be made via CashApp to $GullahGeecheeNation and GoFundMe www.gofundme.com/f/gullahgeechee-land-amp-legacy-fund, which helps us to continue to fight the numerous legal battles to protect our land.

What or who has inspired you to become the force you are? GOD inspires and quickens me daily.

What is a desire deep in your soul you haven't accomplished yet? I deeply desire unity in the Black community, especially in the Gullah/Geechee Nation. This is not something I can simply accomplish, however. This is something that has to become a collective desire for Black people to do, which will require consistent deprogramming, healing, reprogramming and redirection away from negative spiritual energies and assimilation that have many seeking to profit, instead of being prophetic.

Describe yourself in three words, and tell us why these words. Faith-full, Gullah/Geechee, Art-ivist! I am The Gullah/Geechee Art-ivist that is filled with faith in GOD because I have seen what GOD has given me the ability to do and to overcome. I do my activism for my people through the arts and created the title "The Art-ivist" to ensure there was an accurate word for who GOD called me to be. Tenk GAWD e anoint me fa be Gullah/Geechee! I livin disya ting loudly!

If you could share an afternoon and a meal with anyone (living or deceased) who, why, what? I have several folks who come to mind, but I would likely spend my afternoon with Jesus on the top of a mountain, or alongside a body of water to discuss being an African leader and visionary, and how to consistently rise above the ongoing encounters with those feeding from the fruit of the flesh instead of the fruit of the Spirit, in order to fully evolve into GODLY oneness and move on to the next realm of existence.

What are you currently ROARING about? Given that I am not a lion, I do not roar. However, I am standing as a living example of what Gullah/Geechee, GOD-directed leadership is, and how when you live in accordance with the vision and purpose that GOD gives you, you can walk peacefully and your work is what sounds as loud as a roar as you sit, meditate and gee tenks fa peace.