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Sophia Michelen

Sophia Michelen is a New York–based photojournalist, writer and PBS travel host whose work explores cultural preservation, memory and identity, often through the lesser-known corners of the world. Her reporting and photography have appeared in National Geographic Travel, Ms., Forbes, Teen Vogue and other outlets.

Stories from this author

Sweetgrass basket weaving is one of the most enduring cultural traditions of the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of Africans enslaved on the rice, indigo and cotton plantations of the southeastern United States.

From Basket Weaving to Oyster Reef Conservation, Gullah Geechee Women Are Preserving a Living Heritage

Along America’s southeastern coast, descendants of enslaved Africans pass down traditions and knowledge of crafts, ecology and food through generations