2008 Black History Month Quilt
Contributed by Lucy Turner
The Middle School has an extensive roster of events planned for Black History
Month. Students have already viewed a Power Point presentation on the
roots of the quilting tradition among African Americans. Also, each
student is creating a square to make a quilt which will be on display at the
Middle School during the month of February.
Quilting and textiles in general have historical importance, both in African
traditions and in African American traditions.
Cloth in Africa has been used to represent wealth, status, and cultural events.
Some cloth was woven to mark important events in people’s lives.
Cloth could be used to distinguish rank, like the kente cloth worn by Ashanti
kings in Ghana. Cloth was also used in political messages. In
Africa, weaving cloth was usually a job done by men.
When Africans were brought as slaves to the U.S., women became involved in
spinning, weaving, and quilting. During slavery times prior to the Civil
War, members of the Underground Railroad used quilts to send messages.
After the Civil War, many African American women worked as servants or farm
laborers for very little money. They sometimes made quilts from scraps, worn-out
work clothing, or grain sacks in order to keep their families warm.
Just as quilting has historically been a social activity, we will make a quilt
together, each contributing one piece to the whole.
The quilt represents the spirit of inclusion, diversity, and creativity that
lives in the Shady Side Academy community.
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