‘A deeper understanding’: Black history and tourism in SC coming into focus

Charleston is praised by hospitality publications for its rich culture, history and preserved landmarks. What many don’t realize is how much influence African American and Gullah-Geechee cultures had, and still have, on the region’s tourism industry. Alphonso Brown, owner of Gullah Tours, meets countless visitors in his line of work. He’s been driving busloads of them around Charleston for decades to give them an overview of his culture and heritage.  “People ask me all the time how I learned to speak Gullah. I say the better question is how did I learn to speak English?” Brown, a native Gullah speaker, joked. Alphonso Brown is owner of Gullah Tours in Charleston.  File/Staff The interest in Gullah culture has significantly grown over the years as he’s had to add more tour times and vehicles to keep up with demand. “They come to hear Black history. They come to hear about what’s been left out of the history books,” Brown said. “There are truths that have taken a long time for people to accept, but now tour guides don’t hold back anything.” The two-day 11th annual African American Tourism conference, held Oct. 4-5, put a spotlight on how that heritage is drawing in...