“I gladee fuh see hunnuh deday,” Victoria A. Smalls said to the attendees after being introduced during our January Zoom Presentation. Ms. Smalls, who is an award-winning humanities scholar and cultural preservationist who is devoted to history, art, land, food, and the African Diaspora, gave a presentation that educated, entertained, and inspired.
Ms. Smalls began her presentation by speaking a sentence in Gullah Geechee. She then told us that, as a child, Gullah Geechee was the first language she spoke. She became emotional when she explained that, because of assimilation, she was forced to stop speaking this language that was directedly gifted to her and her community by her ancestors.
Ms. Smalls possesses a resilient spirit that shines through, especially as she discussed growing up in Gullah Geechee culture and absorbing it through its food, art, songs, and, of course, its people. Ms. Smalls is a perfect ambassador because she speaks with knowledge and passion and was happy to answer questions throughout her presentation. Something beautiful happened during the question/conversation part, a young lady named Michele stated that she had an aunt named Ernestine who worked at the Penn Center, which was the first school in the South for formerly enslaved West Africans. Ms. Smalls immediately said, “I know her. Next time I see her I’m gonna give her a hug for you.” And in that moment, the world became beautifully familiar and small. If you would like to watch Ms. Smalls’ presentation, please visit YouTube and search for the SISCA Brackettville video titled “Victoria A. Smalls – Monthly Zoom Presentation – January 2026.”
Our next Zoom presentation will be taking place on Tuesday, February 24. Our presenter will be Ms. Brenda G. Partridge Brown. Ms. Brown is an author who recently published the book Echoes of a Little Brown Soldier Girl. Ms. Brown is the daughter of Willie Belle Irvin Partridge, who was a member of the 6888 Battalion. She’s written about her mother’s life and detailed what is like to be the daughter of such a trailblazing woman.
