Linda's Blogspot

  Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is more than just a grand house; it is a  landscape of architectural ambition, the brutal reality of the rice empire, and a literary retreat. ​The following article traces its history from a modest 18th-century farmhouse to its preservation as a state landmark. ​ Shadows on the Santee: Labor, Wealth, and the Lowcountry Rice Empire Standing on the banks of Wambaw Creek in the Santee Delta, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site serves as a silent witness to three centuries of South Carolina history. The site’s evolution—from a Huguenot settler’s home to a massive rice engine and finally the sanctuary of a poet—tells a complex story of wealth, labor, and preservation . ​The Rise of a Georgian Masterpiece ​The story of the mansion began in 1735, when Noe Serre, a French Huguenot, built a modest two-story wood-frame farmhouse. However, the plantation’s most famous era of expansion began in 1757 when it was acquired by Daniel Horry throug...

  The article below explores the connection between a Southern poet and an Intergalactic philosopher. It is a look at the landscape that inspired Rutledge and the poetry that captured the "majestic" spirit Sun Ra . The Bard of the Santee: Archibald Rutledge and the Spirits of Hampton Plantation ​When Archibald Rutledge returned to Hampton Plantation in 1937, he found a world that felt disconnected from modern time. The following image captures the atmosphere of the Santee River delta as he described it—haunting, ancient, and filled with a natural power that Sun Ra would later interpret through a cosmic lens.  Rutledge’s Poetry and the Sun Ra Connection ​Sun Ra often looked for "vibrations" in text that spoke to a higher discipline or a connection to the divine. While Rutledge wrote hundreds of poems, certain themes in his work likely resonated with Ra’s "Myth-Science" philosophy. ​ 1. The Theme of Natural Mastery In poems like "The Brave Deceiver,...

Archibald Rutledge: The Bard of Hampton and the Cosmic Connection ​To many, Archibald Rutledge (1883–1973) was the quintessential Southern man of letters—a poet laureate, a naturalist, and a distinguished educator. Yet, his work occupied a strange, almost mystical space that eventually caught the attention of the avant-garde jazz philosopher Sun Ra . Rutledge’s life was defined by a dramatic return to his roots, moving from the ivory towers of Northern academia back to the moss-draped silence of Hampton Plantation . ​ From the Classroom to the Rice Fields ​Born into the South Carolina aristocracy, Rutledge spent over three decades as a beloved English professor at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. He was a man of the library and the lecture hall, but his heart remained tethered to the Santee River. Upon his retirement in 1937, he moved back to his ancestral home, Hampton Plantation, one of the most storied rice empires in American history. ​The plantation he inherited was a g...

  The 1971 residency of Sun Ra at UC Berkeley remains one of the most fascinating chapters in academic history. His course, African-American Studies 198: The Black Man in the Cosmos , was less a traditional lecture series and more an immersion into a radical, multi-dimensional philosophy that bridged the gap between ancient history and the space age. ​ The Cosmic Classroom: Sun Ra at Berkeley The Cosmic Classroom at Berkeley ​The 1971 residency of Sun Ra at UC Berkeley remains one of the most fascinating chapters in academic history. His course, African-American Studies 198: The Black Man in the Cosmos, was less a traditional lecture series and more an immersion into a radical, multi-dimensional philosophy that bridged the gap between ancient history and the space age. ​The Cosmic Classroom: Sun Ra at Berkeley ​Sun Ra’s approach to teaching was as avant-garde as his music. Each session typically began with a lecture where he would fill the chalkboard with complex diagrams, "equat...

Bioneers Conference: Lunch: A Stroll into the Community For attendees of the Bioneers Conference in Berkeley, the culinary experience is designed to be as "local" as the activism. Generally, breakfast and lunch are not included in the standard conference ticket, but the event’s location makes finding food part of the experience. ​Here is how meals typically work during the conference: ​Lunch: A "Stroll into the Community" ​The conference schedule is intentionally designed with a long lunch break (usually from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM ) to encourage attendees to explore the local economy. ​ The Routine: After the morning keynote sessions at Zellerbach Hall, thousands of participants "stroll" into downtown Berkeley. ​ The Options: Downtown Berkeley is a "Garden of Eatin'" with dozens of restaurants and food vendors within a 5-10 minute walk. This allows attendees to support local, sustainable, and plant-based eateries in the area. ​ Network...

  The Enduring Appeal of Bioneers: Who Attend and Why It Matters ​For over 35 years, the Bioneers Conference has served as a beacon for environmental and social justice, drawing a dedicated community of innovators, activists, and changemakers. While the 2025 conference in Berkeley once again proved to be a sold-out success, marking its continued growth, the question remains: just how many people usually attend, and who are they? ​A Thriving Community: Attendance at a Glance ​The Bioneers Conference consistently draws a significant crowd to its main event. Typically, between 2,200 and 3,000 attendees converge for the three-day core conference. Since its move to Berkeley in 2023, the event has not only maintained but exceeded its popularity, frequently reaching "Sold Out" status weeks in advance. ​But the reach of Bioneers extends far beyond the physical gathering. Historically, the organization has connected with upwards of 10,000 people annually through a network of sa...