Hope Quilt

Ohio History

Hope of a New Day Begun

This meticulously embroidered quilt presents a beautiful picture of hope. Intertwining ribbons lead through a brilliant blue sky to the central leaf image. This symbolic picture is an interesting choice to represent the hope of the present. Examining it more closely, you may notice the detailed loops of quilting that tie the parts together. Along with sewing on the many little letters, this quilt must have required a good bit of work and patience. It turned out beautifully in every way. The words come from the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson. The song was first written as a poem to introduce Booker T. Washington as the guest of honor at the Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, where Johnson was the principal. The lyrics were later set to music by Johnson's brother, creating this beautiful song of liberty:

 

Lift every voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers died?

We have come over a way that with tears have been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might

Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee;
Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.



Collage Quilt

Ohio History

Red, White, and Blue

Next we found a very different kind of quilt. The abstract colors and shapes contrasted sharply with the realistic representations of the last quilt. It definitely has a patriotic theme with the colors, but other than that, this one is open for interpretation. It was very intriguing to examine the materials that the quilt was made of though - all kinds of fabric, beads, buttons, trimmings, and even letters. And did you notice the fringes on the bottom? It would be amazing to watch someone put a quilt like this together!

Underground Railroad

Ohio History

The Journey Ends

Our quilt journey continued from the plantation to the Underground Railroad. A green snaking path amid forest browns symbolized the winding and treacherous path to freedom. Markers commemorated the Underground Railroad stations in northeast Ohio, many of them in Cleveland where certain freedom was just across Lake Erie. Old photographs transferred onto fabric made a very interesting representation of these stations. Below, in another portion of the quilt, we see the runaway slaves hiding in the bare trees under the light of the moon, moving stealthily toward the north. It is difficult to even comprehend what these slaves went through for the right to live in freedom.

Plantation Quilt

Ohio History

Black and White

The Journey of Hope in America display at the National Afro American Museum featured over 90 quilts. They commemorated the culture and history of the African American people, inspired by the election of President Obama. The quilt above seemed an appropriate beginning for the exhibit. Its artistic images portray the vast disparity between the life of the White and the Black in early America. The symbols for justice, equity, and freedom for all contrast sharply with people being treated and traded as property. The building in the middle, Fisk University, is a thought-provoking addition to the quilt scene. Fisk University was founded just after the Civil War as a school for recently-freed slave families. It is located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school originated the Jubilee Singers, an African American a capella ensemble which broke away from traditional "Black minstrel" music. The group was begun to raise money for the school, but went on to become world famous, even performing at the White House. As you can see, the quilt is tied together in more ways than one.

Instruments

Ohio History

Making Music

We also enjoyed examining a display of traditional African instruments. Many were made and played by African Americans in early America as well. The topmost instrument was fairly recognizable as a xylophone, but the others were more difficult to distinguish. I am sure they all had special names, but sadly I do not remember them. On the right are some kind of morocco or shaker instruments, and the one beside those looks suspiciously like a guitar. I have played a typical guitar, and I really must say I think this one looks as though it could fall apart if it got into my hands!

African Drum

 This instrument is the "Dun Dun Drum" and originates from West Africa. It is also called the African Talking Drum since the drummer can actually change the pitch of the drum. This is accomplished by squeezing and releasing the strings that run the length of the drum, which changed the size of the drum and thus the sound produced. These drums could be used to send messages and announce visiting groups from very long distances.

Baskets

Ohio History

Basket Display

Dolls are not the only special exhibit I have visited at the National Afro American Museum. My family returned to the museum a year later to see a special display of quilts. On our way in, we stopped to admire this beautiful basket collection. There were baskets of all shapes, sizes, and colors - certainly serving artistic purposes as well as practical. A sign explained how some baskets were woven, such as the ones on the left-hand side with a square checkerboard appearance. Others were coil baskets, made from concentric circles of material fastened together. The purple-accented baskets at the top right are examples of coil baskets. I was amazed to see the varied purposes of the baskets, ranging from gathering and storage to table ornamentation. It would certainly be fascinating to watch the process of making one of these baskets!

Cabbage Patch Dolls

Ohio History

Cabbage Patch Family

And finally, last of all, we meet the Cabbage Patch babies. Don't you just have to smile at them, all decked out in their grown-up clothes? The sports uniforms are so cute. These are some of the few dolls in the Afro American Museum exhibit that might appeal to boys. Cabbage Patch dolls were first manufactured in 1978 under the name Little People. They reached their height in the 80's, but continue to be sold today. I remember growing up with several Cabbage Patch dolls, including the bald-headed Baby Rose doll who always had to wear her little pink hood. My sister's doll was named Lily, and believe it or not, she was identical to the astronaut doll in the display. At first we thought Lily had decided to go to space! I must say, a Cabbage Patch doll looks pretty good in a spacesuit!

Lily the Astronaut

 

Talking Doll

Ohio History

Speaking Baby

My sister and I thought this talking doll was especially cool. I wish I could have actually heard her talk! She is once again on the dark end of the skin tone spectrum, with typically-portrayed African features. There is ongoing controversy about exaggeration of racial features on dolls for children. A museum sign did discuss how giving African American children ethnically correct dolls allows them to build self-esteem and self-acceptance. Such dolls are also beneficial to children of other cultures, helping to make them open to people of all racial backgrounds. It was interesting to consider the many roles this doll could have played in a child's life.