When you visit Daufuskie, you will see houses that are painted blue somewhere on its exterior. Some are painted all blue, and some only have the color on its window shutters.
What is the point in painting homes this bright and uncommon color? The Gullah population believed that “heaven blue” was the only color that warded off evil spirits. The color would scare the spirits away because it represented the color of their tears.
A picture I took of a old Gullah home with accents of blue on its window shudders.
Many people do not live in the blue Gullah homes anymore because they are at risk for collapse after so many years of standing. However, a program in South Carolina called the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation work to upgrade the homes for visitors to rent. You can stay in the newly renovated cottages and help preserve and restore Gullah homes, as the money received from renters is saved to complete its restoration. While renters stay and workers continue to restore, the descendants of the Gullah families who owned it still remain the owner. However, once the cost to repair the home is met, renters are no longer allowed and the newly renovated home becomes fully owned by the original resident.