Dr. Kim Cliett Long is a distinguished historian, author, and Project Administrator for the Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, where she spearheads initiatives celebrating African and African American maritime art, history, and culture. Her pioneering contributions to African Maritime History have been recognized through inclusion in The HistoryMakers, the world’s largest oral history archive of African Americans who have made significant contributions to American life, history, and culture during the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The HistoryMakers oral history archives are housed at the Library of Congress. Dr. Long’s latest publication, The First Marketplace: Africa’s Role in Shaping World Trade, offers readers a comprehensive exploration of Africa’s profound impact on global commerce and economic history. Also, an accomplished expert in distance and online learning, Dr. Long has notably advanced educational technology and virtual learning methodologies, significantly enhancing access and inclusivity in higher education. Beyond scholarly research, she has been actively engaged in the community, notably co-hosting events such as the Market Matriarchs Tea alongside renowned artist Dr. Jonathan Green, celebrating Charleston’s trailblazing women entrepreneurs. Dr. Long’s dedication to illuminating Africa’s rich heritage and her expertise in digital education firmly position her as a leading voice in her fields.
About Jonathan Green
Jonathan Green is an internationally acclaimed artist and cultural historian whose work centers on the lives, labor, and legacies of African-descended maritime communities across the globe. A native of South Carolina’s Lowcountry and steeped in the Gullah-Geechee tradition, Green brings a unique cultural perspective to his vibrant portrayals of coastal life—celebrating the strength, self-sufficiency, and spiritual resilience of people whose livelihoods are bound to the sea. His art honors communities that have historically sustained themselves through fishing, farming, boat building, weaving, and trade, drawing parallels between African maritime cultures in the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Green’s expansive vision highlights the global contributions of African and Afro-descended peoples to maritime industries, cultural exchange, ecological stewardship, and the preservation of coastal economies. Beyond his canvas, Green is a powerful advocate for environmental conservation, historical inclusion, and the global recognition of African diasporic knowledge systems. His work fosters cross-cultural dialogue and inspires new understandings of how art, history, and sustainability intersect in coastal communities around the world.