Sororis literary club reads about sweetgrass basket weaving

Nov. 29—At their meeting on November 16, the members of the Sorosis literary club discussed the book "Sweetgrass" by Mary Alice Monroe.

Set in Charleston, South Carolina, the story focuses on efforts to save a beloved plantation from being sold to land developers as the bills and taxes pile up. Family drama plays in as the twists of the plot are beautifully entwined with environmental issues and sweetgrass basket making.

The art of sweetgrass basket making originated in West Africa with the Gullah people, who brought it to this country where it took root along the Carolina coast. The baskets were so well crafted they could hold water and were used with rice production.

But the art form is dying, as over-development of the coastal regions is depleting the worn and weathered grasses that are needed for the firm foundation of the basket. Adding to the decline, younger generations are not carrying on the tradition.

Kathy Newcomb led the discussion at the Sorosis meeting. She related the family crises described in the book as well as the roles of the women characters in sweetgrass basket making.

In a passage from the book, one of those women describes the weaving process: " 'It's all a woman can do,' she said. 'We take hold of all these blades of grass in our hand. Some are soft and sweet like sweetgrass. Some are strong and tough, like the rush. And some are pliable and weak, like pine needles. Each blade is special. Each of them is needed for the basket. We women are the weavers. We take them all in our hands, then bind them together best we can, hoping to build something beautiful.' She sighed. 'It's all we can do.' "

The book makes clear that weaving a basket is a metaphor for building a strong family. Extended further, it is a metaphor for preserving the natural environment.