The Art of Sweetgrass Basket Making | Everything To Know

The Gullah Geechee people of the coastal areas of Georgia, the Carolinas, and near Jacksonville, Florida, are the descendants of Central and West Africans enslaved for generations on coastal plantations in the South.  If you’ve ever traveled to these regions – specifically the Charleston, South Carolina area – you may have encountered sweetgrass baskets being sold at the market or roadside. The baskets are a symbol of African American culture. They represent resilience and artistic skill and are highly sought-after. Here’s everything to know about the art of sweetgrass basket making.

Sweetgrass Basket Making Originated in West Africa

Coiled baskets were a mainstay of rice farming and part of daily life in West Africa. During the transatlantic slave trade, they brought with them knowledge of indigo and rice cultivation and several trades and expertise, including basket weaving. The baskets were initially used to separate the rice grain from its husk, a process called winnowing that was time and labor-intensive. However, over time, after the war ended and chattel slavery slowly waned, the skills the formerly enslaved had were crucial to the economy. Baskets that initially functioned to cultivate rice became decorative items for the home. 

How Sweetgrass Baskets are Made

In addition to the sweetgrass plant, baskets are made with palmetto fronds and pine needles. These help increase the baskets’ structural integrity. Weavers typically put their spin and style into each basket, making them unique and one-of-a-kind, handcrafted by skilled artisans. 

For the Gullah, making sweetgrass baskets signifies a connection to culture, tradition, and family history. The craft of basketmaking is passed down for generations. It’s not uncommon to see young teen artisans in downtown Charleston sharing sweetgrass roses with tourists and passersby.  

A Long History of Gullah Tradition and Culture 

Located outside of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, the Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway is a well-known stretch of Route 17 where local artisans set up shop to sell their baskets and other designs. For many families, this roadside Gullah tradition is both a cultural legacy as well as a source of income. One basket weaver in particular, Mary Jackson, has had work featured in the Smithsonian.  

The Gullah Tradition Lives On 

Sweetgrass basket making continues to thrive as an art thanks to the cultural advocates and artists within the community. Charleston is home to the annual Sweetgrass Festival held at the Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant. The MOJA Arts Festival is another yearly event that celebrates African American and Caribbean arts each fall. Once abundant in the marshes and dunes of the South Carolina coast, sweetgrass is in short supply. Threatened by development, climate change, and overharvesting, many artisans have to travel or grow their own sweetgrass to source enough to continue creating baskets.  

Find Sweetgrass Basket Artisans Online

• Lynette Dingle Youson has perfected the art of sweetgrass basket making. She’s been featured on CBS Sunday Morning.
• Marcella Jackson offers sweetgrass basket-making classes for anyone over the age of 12 who wants to learn. 
• Corey Alston’s intricate basket designs can be custom-made to your preferences. 
• Andrea Cayetano-Jefferson is a sixth-generation sweetgrass basket artisan.  

A new generation of Gullah content creators has taken on the roles of educator and entrepreneur. They’re using social media to reach new audiences and stay connected with their current followers.  The art of sweetgrass basket making tells many stories. From creativity and culture to resilience and a connection to the ancestors, the stories are endless. The Gullah must hold on to this craft and continue to share it with each new generation to keep the legacy and memory of the ancestors alive.