Telephone (843) 763-7551
FAX (843) 225-7551

Comments About Our Tour

"My husband and I took a tour recently and we were more than happy with such an informative, unique tour from Mr. Brown. As a native Charlestonian, I have been on many tours in the holy city. I have never experienced a tour with such a personal touch. Mr. Brown let us experience another part of history, one that schools tend to ignore. The last segment of our tour was the highlight of the trip for me. We were able to meet Mr. Philip Simmons, a master blacksmith with wrought iron gates. He is an amazing individual and to have the opportunity to meet him was incredible. Thank you Mr. Brown for sharing your gift with us!"

- Laura Moore-Lamminen, Lexington, KY

"I took your tour last year this time and enjoyed it a great deal. It is wonderful to get an African American perspective of life; to see the contributions that were made by our ancestors. It was most special on that tour last spring because we toured Mr. Philip Simmon's home and it was his birthday and we all sang HB to him and got to talk with him a bit.

Your tour is most informative and this website is as well. I plan on moving to the Charleston area over the summer so I am brushing up on my Gullah so I can understand if someone is talking about me . Seriously though, my sister-in-law's mother speaks it so fast that I usually have to ask her to repeat herself often. It will benefit me to be able to communicate with this lovely woman once I get a handle on the language."

- Sharon Y. Armstrong, Richmond, VA

"Your Gullah Tour was the highlight of our trip to Charleston. We knew that the other tours would likely give us the "politically correct" history of Charleston. We hoped that on your tour we would get a more accurate picture of what life was like for a black family in Charleston both prior to and following the Civil War. Our only disappointment was that we got the feeling you had many more stories to tell than just the ones we heard on the tour. You really should consider writing a book!

Every child in America, both black and white, could benefit from taking your tour. As a white person, it gave me new insight into black history. As an American, it made me feel sad that our history books gloss over this ugly truth about our history. "

- The Sluchers, Frankfort, Kentucky

"Thank you. My trip to Charleston was disappointing until I took your tour. I had visited two large plantation and the Charleston Museum looking for my African-American history and found only a few references to the "servants" and a few "carrige houses". I assumed that Charleston would offer an incredible collection of slave artifacts and stories passed down through generations from the mouth of my ancestors. Your tour sated my thirst.

Mr Brown your presentation and honesty was so refreshing. Your knowledge of the history of Charleston is unmatched. It has been two years since my vacation in Charleston, yet you, your tour and the great Philip Simmons will forever be a memorable moment in my life. Again, Thank You."

- Andre Arnold, Indianapolis, IN

"Wow!!! We have not stopped talking about the wonderful time that we had on your tour (June 3, 2004). We simply cannot say enough good things about it. It was a true learning experience from the moment we stepped aboard. Alfonso it was great!!! My kids were trying to learn pig latin, now they want to speak Gullah! The high point of the tour was meeting Mr Simmons. My children were (ok,we were all) fascinated that we met someone famous and down to earth. I am so glad our paths met. This one's definately a "must do".

Thanks again for a great time!"

- Valerie, Chris, Ashley & Alex Sutton, Duluth, GA

"Your business is an excellent conceptual idea/venture. I am so proud of what you have established to help Americans know about "us" in the U.S. and the great contributions that we have made to our American melting pot culture and way(s) of living life which have been affected by so many factors.

Thank your for your dreams, vision, stamina, and stepping out on your faith in "our" heritage, culture, and race. Thank you for giving us hope and pride. Love what you have done and are doing."

- Jeanine Gaskin
A fan from Detroit, Michigan

"My husband and I went on several tours while we were vacationing in Charleston, but the very best of all was the Gullah Tour. Riding through the streets of Charleston and learning all about the history from the African American perspective was so informative and refreshing. Mr. Alphonso Brown is so informative and entertaining. His mastery of the history of Charleston as well as the Gullah language was second to none. We truly enjoyed the privelege of meeting Mr. Phillip Simmons and taking pictures with him.

I have recommended this tour to everyone who ever wants to travel to Charleston. Thank you for a wonderful time."

- Salonge Crenshaw, Va.

"A truly amazing and inspiring tour. Mr Brown is a wonderful guide, showing us sights and relating fascinating stories that we would otherwise not have experienced. A must do when in Charleston."

- Judy McNew

"On July 25, 2000 my wife and I joined your Gullah Tour, clearly the highlight of our visit to your beautiful city and one of the all time highlights of our travels of the world.

Under the guise of "political correctness" many Americans, white and black, choose to ignore that period of our history when a government that guaranteed liberty and justice for a nation's people also rationalized denial of humanity of those forced into slavery. Perhaps it is our common embarrassment and a lack of understanding of our cultural and ethnic differences that keep us from talking about slavery at least in "mixed" company.

Alphonso, you have the ability to bridge that gap. Your tour and especially your knowledge, personality and "Gullah" humor provide a forum for candid discussion and appreciation of an important element of this nation's history. We were not surprised that your bus was full but were pleasantly surprised that many were locals, both black and white. We would have enjoyed more time to discuss the tour with you and, especially, other members of the tour. Have you considered taking your "show" on the road as a speaker or teaching a college level course or seminar?

We had forgotten that you were included in Charles Kuralt's book, "America". When we returned home, we dug it out and wished that we had reviewed it before visiting Charleston. Well deserved!

Ironically, upon arriving home, we discovered two articles in the local paper; "Slave Identities Emerge Through Database", (by David Firestone, NY Times) and "Black American Tourists Flock to Slave Castles in Ghana" (by Douglas Farah, Washington Post). Compelling and relevant reading!

We found your web site to also be well done and have downloaded much of the tour site summaries and pictures to share with my family and friends. We will recommend your tour to all!

T'ENGY FUH YO Gullah Tour."

Yours truly,
- Bob and Jean Cole, Pleasanton, CA

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for a most enjoyable and informative tour of Gullah Charleston this past April. Your Chrismatic personality as well as the unexpected surprise of visiting Mr. Simmons' home gave the tour a taste of historical as well as living Charleston at that moment."

- Judith Gurgacz Waddington, New Castle, PA

"Greetings, and I hope that you are well, and that business is great! Thank you so much for our tour when we last visited Charleston. Our friend fron Ghana enjoyed the tour tremendously, also."

- Delores Watson, Saluda, SC

"My wife and I recently visited Charleston for a weekend get away from our Tallahassee, Florida home. Having never been to Charleston, needless to say, we really enjoyed our visit, especially your tour.

The cream da la cream of our visit to Charleston was taking your tour. I must say, that you are a master of the African American history of Charleston. Your historical presentation of the African Charleston history is so smooth that it calms the listeners soul and puts that person back in the time the actual event took place. Not only are you knowledgeable in the history, you're a friendly and personable man. But even more exciting was getting to meet and take pictures with the "Legendary Philip Simmons, Master Blacksmith and Folklore Historian." I will never forget this man and never forget you. I hope to return to Charleston in the near future for a refresher Gullah tour."

- William E. Long, Jr., Tallahassee, FL