*Ever wonder how to make a millennial happy? Just bring up something from their childhood. This generation is known to have a stronger connection to nostalgia than past generations. And that can be proven by the excitement fans have shown for the 30th anniversary of the children’s TV series “Gullah Gullah Island.”
Gullah Gullah Island premiered in 1994 starring the Daise family. Ron and Natalie Daise created the series to not only show the dynamic of a Black family but to showcase the culture as well. To commiserate the 30th anniversary their son and one of the stars of the show is following in their footsteps. Simeon Diase (All American) has created a new series “Gullah Gullad Island: The Portal.”
I had the chance to speak with Simeon Daise. Not only to discuss the anniversary but also this reimagining of the show we, millennials, loved as kids.
“The show was created by way of us just being us and my parents just being them. They were cultural storytellers. To continue the legacy of authentic cultural representation is big,” said Simeon Daise.
Instead of rebooting the show Daise has decided to take a different approach and create a more dramatic show. “Gullah Gullah Island: The Portal” will focus more on the lives of the adults in the series and how they are managing and surviving adulthood.
“This is a dramatic reimagining that was influenced by the original show. We’re creating a whole new thing, said Simeon Daise. He goes on to add, “What Gullah Gullah Island represented was a safe space for a lot of kids. And now as an adult what does it look like to create a safe space for those adults?”
As I think about the current state of television there isn’t a lot of representation for young adults in their 30s. Social media is the most influential right now which is filled with the illusion that everyone has it all figured out when that isn’t the reality. The same way kids needed Gullah Gullah in 1994 is the same way those now adults need the show again in 2024!
You can check out the teaser for “Gullah Gullah Island: The Portal” at the top of the page. Follow Simeon on social @Simeondaise for the series release date.
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