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Comments About Our Tour

I had the wonderful and blessed opportunity to go on your Gullah Tour on April 11th. You have clearly mastered the African American History of Charleston. This was a most informative and educational experience. I felt I was in a classroom and you left me with a thirst for more knowledge. Your style and humor made this tour most enjoyable and I highly recommend it to any person visiting Charleston.

- Pearl Rapley, Cortlandt Manor, NY

"One of our greatest memories will be the time we spent with you. You had a real impact on our hearts and minds. I know at least nine children who will have a much different world outlook because of your thoughtful contribution to their study trip. Please accept my personal gratitude and that of the Board of Trustees of the Ross School, the teachers, and the delighted children."

- Courtney Sale Ross, The Ross School, East hampton, NY

"We would like to thank you again for the super terrific tour you gave us with the surprise ending (Mr. Simmons home). This was our 4th visit to Charleston and this was, by far, the most interesting tour we've evr had. Thanks again for the personal attention you gave."

- De & Paul Rosing, Edgewood, KY

"First, let me thank you for the great Gullah tour we took on Saturday, September 27th. My friend and I enjoyed it immensely. In fact it was warm and wonderful, a contrast to other sites in Charleston, where the hosts or guides were somewhat chilly. We're both librarians so we went on to Chapter Two, where I bought your book for some more "Gullah fuh unrabble muh mout' wid." I am going to donate my copy to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library. This library is now more than 70 years old and is the preeminent collection of materials on the African diaspora. Our hostess for the weekend is also a librarian and we told her to tell folks about your tour. We librarians like to tell everything we know."

- Betty K. Gubert, New York, NY

Comments: To: Mr. Paul Stracey, Charleston Place
Dear Mr. Stracey,
"I had the privilege of staying in your wonderful hotel with a meeting sponsored by The College Board. I travel a great deal, and, therefore, know hotels, and want you to know that yours is first rate. However, I do have a suggestion. We were sent a list of tours published by you. I'd like to suggest that you add one, actually, it was by far the best tour that I took while in Charleston. I don't have much of the information, but if you're interested you can find out without much trouble. The tour was called the Gullah Tour that centered on the African American experience in Charleston. I certainly think your tour option list would be enhanced both from a qualitative, completeness, and diversity perspective by this addition."

- P. A. Ramsey, Princeton, NJ

"The Steering Committee of the 8th Annual Conference on Racial Harmony would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the significant contribution you and Gullah Tours made to its overwhelming success. We have had nothing but rave reviews of both tours from participants. The Charleston community is indeed fortunate to have available an individual of your expertise and knowledge about an aspect of Charleston history of which many natives and visitors are unaware."

- Jacqueline A. Collins, Minister, Charleston, SC

"What a delightful Gullah Tour Tony and I experienced with you last Saturday. So much so, we've been excitingly telling others about it and recommending that they take it, too! Tony, who was born and reared in New York and moved here a year ago from Virginia, said he was having a hard time understanding the Gullah as he'd never heard the language spoken before. Being a retired police officer/investigator, I think he was trying too hard to comprehend every word, but he enjoyed the tour! In fact, we both were saying we felt as if we'd spent a late morning to early afternoon with a close friend. I got the feeling that the others touring with us felt the same. I must say, Alphonso, that the natural ease and rhythm in which you told of the "true" history of our people and the people of Charleston demonstrated that you have done your homework, and done it quite well! The ease in which you switch from historian to scholarly orator, and back to Gullah, interlaced with! humor, further proves that you not only take your work seriously, but take your "Tourist Friends" seriously as well. You value them!!! THAT'S A GOOD THING in this day and age!"

- Bessie Williams Simmons, Charleston, SC