Unravelling the Rich History of African American Quilts

Quilting, an age-old craft, has been an integral part of African American history, showcasing the resilience, creativity, and unity of a community that has persevered through adversity. The powerful stories and vivid patterns within African American quilts provide a unique lens into their history and culture. Join us as we unravel the rich history of African American quilts, from their African roots to the inspiring women who have carried on the tradition.

Key Takeaways

African American quilting is a vibrant tradition rooted in African culture and the experiences of enslaved people.
Iconic figures such as Harriet Powers pioneered story quilts, while Gee’s Bend Quilters have been creating captivating works for centuries.
Contemporary Black Women Quilters are preserving this inspiring form of cultural expression to ensure it is passed on to future generations.

The vibrant tradition of African American quilting dates back to the 17th century, deeply rooted in African cultural traditions and influenced by the experiences of enslaved people. As enslaved individuals were often tasked with spinning, weaving, sewing, and appliqueing quilts for their mistresses, they used their remarkable skills to create quilts that expressed their creativity and craftsmanship. African American quilts, unlike the meticulous patterns of white quilters, often feature raw and emotive designs, serving as a testament to their creators’:

pain
oppression
freedom
power

Asymmetric designs, large-scale patterns, and rich story quilts found in African American quilt patterns have captivated historians. Furthermore, quilting has nurtured community bonds and fostered communication, as quilting circles have served as a platform for sharing stories, techniques, and designs.

Nowadays, African American quilts are celebrated as significant artistic pieces that convey wisdom, strength, and beauty in the field of fine arts.

African Culture and Quilting Traditions

African textile traditions have had an immense impact on African American quilting styles and techniques. The vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and intricate designs found in African textiles have been seamlessly integrated into African American quilts, making them truly unique and captivating. Quilting traditions from West Africa, featuring bold colors, geometric patterns, and intricate designs, have significantly influenced African American quilting.

Quilting has served as a communal activity and a way to honor and preserve African American culture and history for future generations. The tradition of quilting may have been motivated by the African practice of weaving strips of fabric and using them to create larger textiles. Hence, African American quilting has surfaced as a potent cultural expression, merging African and American influences.

Enslaved People and Quilt Making

Enslaved people played a significant role in quilt making, utilizing their expertise in spinning, weaving, sewing, and quilting on plantations and in wealthy households. Despite not having access to formal education, they passed down their quilting skills from generation to generation, ensuring the continuation of this remarkable tradition.

However, beyond their practical uses, quilts served as a powerful form of resistance and communication. Some patterns were possibly used as codes for enslaved individuals seeking freedom, making quilts an essential tool in the fight for emancipation. Among the notable quilt makers of this era was Lizzie Hobbs Keckley, who went from being a former slave to a professional seamstress and quilter for the first lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, and the Congressional wives.

Civil War and Underground Railroad

The Civil War had a profound influence on quilt making, as quilts became symbols of resistance and unity among communities affected by the war. They were used to generate funds, keep soldiers warm, and provide solace. During this time, local mills changed to producing fabric for the war effort, reducing access to imported cloth. It is estimated that more than 250,000 quilts were made for Union soldiers during the war.

Quilts served a key role in the Underground Railroad, facilitating communication between slaves and abolitionists by providing directions and instructions through their patterns. For example, the “Drunkard’s Path” quilt pattern was used to point the way to freedom. This connection between quilts and the Underground Railroad highlights the significance of quilting within the African American community and its role in the fight for freedom.

The Women Behind the Quilts: Black Women Quilters

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Black women quilters, who have made monumental contributions to the art of quilting, are at the heart of the African American quilting tradition. These talented women, some of whom were once enslaved, used their remarkable skills to create and preserve the quilting tradition, ensuring that it would be passed on to future generations. Their exquisite quilts that honor their cultural heritage and personal experiences stand as beautiful tributes to their skill and artistry.

Influential black women quilters, such as:

Harriet Powers
Faith Ringgold
Rosie Lee Tompkins
Carolyn L. Mazloomi, the founder of the Women of Color Quilters Network

have all made incredible contributions to the quilting world. Their work has been recognized and celebrated, with their quilts now proudly displayed in museums and galleries around the world.

The legacy of these black women quilters is one of resilience, creativity, and strength, and their contributions to the art of quilting have been invaluable.

Gee's Bend Quilters

Gee’s Bend, Alabama, is home to a unique quilting community made up of residents who are direct descendants of enslaved people. They have been creating beautiful quilts since the 19th century, and their quilts are considered important African-American visual and cultural contributions to the history of art in the United States. One of the prominent quilters from Gee’s Bend is Mary Lee Bendolph, whose work has been widely recognized and celebrated.

Gee’s Bend’s quilting tradition traces its origin back to the early 1800s when the community was a cotton plantation under the ownership of Joseph Gee. The gee’s bend quilts crafted by Gee’s Bend Quilters are truly remarkable, made from recycled materials and often featuring string quilts, which are a unique and expressive style. These quilts have become highly valued, with some even selling for as much as $20,000.

Harriet Powers: A Pioneer in Story Quilts

Born into slavery in Georgia in 1837, Harriet Powers emerged as one of the most renowned African American quilt makers in the South. She is widely recognized as a pioneer in story quilts, a unique form of narrative quilting that combines captivating stories from the Bible and African American folklore. Only two of her quilts still exist today, but their impact on the quilting world remains immense.

Harriet Powers’ quilts are now celebrated as some of the most significant examples of African American quilting. Her work has been proudly displayed in museums and galleries around the world, and her quilts have become highly sought after by collectors. As a pioneer in story quilts, Powers has left an indelible mark on the history of African American quilting, inspiring countless quilters who have followed in her footsteps.

Contemporary Black Women Quilters

In addition to the historical figures in African American quilting, contemporary black women quilters continue to innovate and preserve the tradition. Artists like Bisa Butler and the quilters of Gee’s Bend are creating breathtaking works of art, using quilting as a powerful form of artistic expression.

The work of these contemporary black women quilters beautifully preserves the African American experience and showcases the ongoing importance of quilting as a form of cultural expression. Their creations serve as powerful symbols of black America, provoking conversations around identity, heritage, and healing within the African American community.

Gee's Bend: A Unique Quilting Community

Gee’s Bend is an inspiring town of roughly 200 people, known for its stunningly crafted quilts that hang in museums and galleries worldwide. The quilting matriarchs of Gee’s Bend, such as Patti Ann Williams, Arlonzia Pettway, and Loretta Pettway Bennett, have left a lasting impression on the community and its quilt-making traditions. The talented Gee’s Bend residents continue to preserve and celebrate their unique heritage through their art.

The remarkable quilting tradition in Gee’s Bend originates from the early 1800s when the community was a cotton plantation owned by Joseph Gee. The enslaved individuals on the plantation imparted their quilting skills to the following generations, preserving this extraordinary tradition.

The quilts of Gee’s Bend have had a significant impact on the art world and are recognized as important African-American visual and cultural contributions to the history of art in the United States.

Joseph Gee and the Cotton Plantation

Joseph Gee, an ambitious and successful landowner from Halifax County in North Carolina, established a cotton plantation in fertile land by the river’s bend in 1816. He brought 18 slaves with him to work on the plantation and make his dream come true.

The enslaved people on the cotton plantation were able to share their quilting skills with the generations that followed. The American Civil War was a pivotal event in the history of African American quilting, influencing the themes and styles of quilts and marking a turning point in the lives of the enslaved.

Freedom Quilting Bee

In 1967, African American women in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, formed the Freedom Quilting Bee to create economic opportunities for the quilters of Gee’s Bend. This cooperative was a powerful step towards achieving financial independence for the quilters and provided an incredible platform for them to share their work with a much larger audience.

The Freedom Quilting Bee provided invaluable economic opportunities, enabling the quilters of Gee’s Bend to earn a respectable income from their craft. The cooperative also provided an incredible platform for the quilters to share their work with a much larger audience, by selling their quilts to stores and galleries across the United States.

Souls Grown Deep Foundation and the Art World

The Souls Grown Deep Foundation is an inspiring non-profit organization committed to preserving and showcasing the remarkable work of black artists from the American South. This foundation has been essential in bringing the Gee’s Bend quilters and their art to the forefront, providing financial assistance and resources to the quilters and their families to help preserve their legacy.

The foundation has played a critical role in spotlighting the work of Gee’s Bend quilters in the art world, lifting the status of African American quilters. Through the efforts of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, the work of Gee’s Bend quilters has gained recognition and appreciation, ensuring that their art continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

Preserving the Tradition: African American Quilts Today

African American quilting remains a vibrant and thriving art form, with artists like Stephen Towns continuing the black tradition of quilting. These quilts are powerful symbols of black America, often provoking conversations around identity, heritage, and healing within the African American community. African American quilting is deeply meaningful to African American women, serving as an essential cultural expression that connects them to their ancestors and heritage.

Organizations like the Souls Grown Deep Foundation are actively working to preserve and promote African American quilting, ensuring that the tradition is passed on to future generations by providing educational opportunities and resources. One of the key aspects of African American quilting is the use of leftover fabric, showcasing the resourcefulness and creativity of the quilters. Through these efforts, the inspiring tradition of African American quilting will continue to thrive and evolve.

Quilting as a Means of Cultural Expression

Quilting provides an inspiring medium for cultural expression, symbolizes the fusion of diverse cultural traditions, mirrors the ties between nature, spirituality, and community, and embodies family, resourcefulness, creativity, and heritage. It is a powerful way for individuals and communities to show their cultural identity and values, and a testament to the diverse influences that have shaped African American quilting.

Quilting also highlights the interconnection between nature, spirituality, and community, illustrating the intertwining of the natural and spiritual worlds and the community’s connection to both. By representing:

family
resourcefulness
creativity
heritage

Passing on the Craft to Younger Generations

Transferring the craft of quilting to younger generations is vital for preserving the decades-long bond, narrating inspiring family lineage stories, and celebrating our heritage. Quilting is proudly passed down from elders to younger generations, with quilters joyfully sharing patterns, techniques, and skills to ensure the tradition lives on.

The continuation of the beautiful tradition of African American quilting relies on the efforts of those who pass on their knowledge and skills to the next generation. By doing so, they safeguard the culture and heritage of African American quilting, ensuring that the stories, techniques, and designs of their ancestors live on in the hearts and hands of future quilters.

Recognizing African American Quilters in the Art World

African American quilters are garnering increased recognition for their contributions to art, as their quilts, which have profoundly influenced modern art, are now regarded as works of art rather than mere craft. Institutions like the UC Berkeley Art Museum have acknowledged the importance of African American quilts by acquiring and exhibiting the world’s largest collection of this type of art, all created by black women.

The recognition of African American quilters in the art world is a testament to their skill, creativity, and resilience. As their work continues to inspire and captivate audiences, the legacy of African American quilting will endure and flourish in the hearts of those who appreciate the beauty and history behind each stitch.

Summary

The rich history of African American quilting is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and unity of a community that has persevered through adversity. From its African roots to the inspiring women who have carried on the tradition, African American quilting serves as a powerful form of cultural expression and a celebration of heritage. As we continue to recognize the contributions of African American quilters in the art world and pass on the tradition to younger generations, the legacy of African American quilting will live on, inspiring and captivating those who encounter its beauty and history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are traditional African American quilts different from other quilts?

African American quilts typically feature striking colors, abstract designs, strip-piecing, and storytelling; many of the Gee’s Bend quilts were made from old clothes, giving them a unique voice and expression. This sets them apart from other traditional quilts.

What is the African American quilting tradition?

African American quilts are a unique form of art that carries a deep history and rich culture. From their inception in the 17th century, to being a part of the Underground Railroad, these quilts were created by enslaved people and are today symbols of hope, culture, community, and freedom.

How did African textile traditions influence African American quilting styles and techniques?

African textile traditions have been a major influence on African American quilting styles and techniques, bringing with them vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and intricate designs that make these quilts truly unique.

How did the Civil War influence quilt making?

The Civil War had a profound effect on quilt making, transforming it into an act of resilience and hope for those affected by the war – from raising funds to providing comfort.

Who are some influential black women quilters?

Harriet Powers, Faith Ringgold, Rosie Lee Tompkins and Carolyn L. Mazloomi are some influential black women quilters, setting the standard for many quilters to follow.

Tangular A. Irby

Tangular A. Irby is a speaker, author, and descendant of Gee’s Bend quilters. She cherishes memories of her grandmothers and time she spent visiting them in Alabama. She holds a BS in Business Administration, a Masters in the Art of Teaching and a 6th Year in Educational Leadership. She writes children’s books and journals to encourage others to preserve their legacy.