God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks about Life on Sapelo Island -- Cornelia Walker Bailey, Paperback

Equal parts cultural history and memoir, God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man recounts a traditional way of life--that of the Geechee Indians of Sapelo Island-- that is threatened by change, with stories that speak to our deepest notions of family, community, and a connection to one's homeland.

Cornelia Walker Bailey models herself after the African griot, the tribal storytellers who keep the history of their people. Bailey's people are the Geechee, whose cultural identity has been largely preserved due to the relative isolation of Sapelo, a barrier island off the coast of Georgia. In this rich account, Bailey captures the experience of growing up in an island community that counted the spirits of its departed among its members, relied on pride and ingenuity in the face of hardship, and taught her firsthand how best to reap the bounty of the marshes, woods and ocean that surrounded her. The power of this memoir to evoke the life of Sapelo Island is remarkable, and the history it preserves is invaluable.

"A special book that reveals the unconquerable spirit of a people who, though torn from their African homeland, imprinted America with a unique culture that continues to endure." --Ebony

Author: Cornelia Walker Bailey, Christena Bledsoe
Publisher: Anchor Books
Published: 07/17/2001
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.10w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9780385493772

Review Citation(s):
Entertainment Weekly 08/03/2001 pg. 61

About the Author
Cornelia Walker Bailey's family has lived on Sapelo Island since 1803. She gives tours on Sapelo Island and lectures across the country about Geechee culture.

Christena Bledsoe is a writer and former reporter who lives in Atlanta and Cedar Key, Florida.