fugitive patterns
When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end
Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt
That I might keep some child warm
And some old person with no one else to talk to
Will hear my whispers
And cuddle near
—from “Quilts” by Nikki Giovanni
please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt!
nikki giovanni’s simplistic but poignant plea to be interwoven in a quilt reveals fugitive possibilities of southern african american women’s quilting. for black women, quilting has illustrated their ability to live otherwise. constantly being frayed at the hems by the realities of heterosexist misogyny, black women often find themselves dealing with scraps. but the scraps are never the end. they are the beginning of something anew. for centuries, african american women have taken these scraps and created masterpieces. new styles. new rhythms, new worlds.
african american like the women of alabama’s gee’s bend has stood at the center of quilting innovation. to see their beautiful work and learn more about quilting techniques and style, click here.
the folk is an online digital curation project centering southern african american folk life both past and present. follow the folk on instagram.