Hilton Head Island, South Carolina resident Josephine Wright has been in a legal battle with real estate developer Bailey Point Investment Group LLC over her property on Jonesville Road. Wright, a 93-year-old Gullah woman, says that her property has been in her family since the Civil War. She has filed a lawsuit against the developer, who is trying to force her to sell her property.
The case has drawn the attention of legal professionals and the media, as it highlights issues of property rights, gentrification, and the preservation of Gullah culture. Gullah people are descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought to the Lowcountry region of the United States, which includes the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia.
Josephine Wright and her attorney Bakari Sellers held a press conference to discuss the case. Sellers is a civil rights attorney and former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He said that the case is about more than just one piece of property, but about the rights of Gullah people to maintain their cultural heritage and their connection to the land.
Bailey Point Investment Group LLC has not commented publicly on the case. However, their lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Wright has no legal right to keep the property and that the company has followed all legal procedures.
The case has also sparked debate about the role of developers in the gentrification of historically Black communities. Hilton Head Island has seen a surge in development in recent years, and some residents say that it has led to the displacement of long-time residents and the destruction of cultural landmarks.
Wright's case has received support from the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the preservation of Gullah culture. The coalition has called for a boycott of Bailey Point Investment Group LLC and has urged other developers to respect the rights of Gullah people.
The case is still ongoing, and it is unclear when a decision will be made. However, it has already had a significant impact on the local community and on the national conversation about property rights and cultural preservation.
Ticker: N/A
