Last week I had the privilege of hearing a great
speaker. Kathy Kenimer shared a
presentation about the Underground Railroad quilt at the Professional Women’s Forum
luncheon. I’ve heard the story of the
Underground Railroad all my life, but never from this perspective. Kathy explained that quilt squares were the
form of communication to the slaves as they were fleeing. A particular square hanging on a clothes line
or in the window would act as a sign to get ready to leave, signal whether it
was safe to stop there for the night, or to identify where the slave was to go
next. Before that luncheon, I had no
idea the role these fabric creations played in history.
Kathy was dynamic and engaging throughout her time at the
podium. She related elements of the
quilt back to life and shared inspirational thoughts with the group. Being as February is Black History month, the
topic was appropriate, but the story was so intriguing and inspiring it could
fit any time of the year. If you have an organization that brings in speakers I
highly recommend Kathy and this topic!
Shoot me an email if you would like her contact information.
You need to have a conversation with dona Jarvis at Walnut Street. She's also done a lot of research on this subject. She's a magnificent quilter. Has a machine that she makes BEAUTIFUL quilts with. She made a blessing blanket for Abby when she was born. Truly a work of art and a labor of love.
ReplyDeleteLinda Ross