by Makeda Cheatom
The story of the Underground Railroad is one of extraordinary courage, resilience, and ingenuity. It is widely believed that
quilts—ordinary household items—may have been used as powerful tools of communication for
enslaved people seeking freedom.
These quilts, stitched with symbolic patterns, could be displayed to convey secret messages about safe houses,
routes, or strategies along the perilous journey north.
As told in works like Hidden in Plain Sight, the quilt code theory has been passed down through oral histories. But because secrecy was critical—and because enslaved people were forbidden from learning to read or write—
there is no written documentation that confirms these practices.
Instead, knowledge was shared through creative, subtle forms:
coded songs, chants, nature sounds, and perhaps the quiet language of quilts.
Decoding the Patterns: Quilt Blocks and Their Meanings Though historians continue to debate the historical accuracy of
quilt codes, many believe certain quilt blocks may have held layered meanings for those on the Underground Railroad. Here are four examples often cited:
The Log Cabin Block: This design, with a central red or yellow square, symbolized the hearth or a light in the window—
signaling a safe house where runaways could find shelter.
The Bear’s Paw: This pattern suggested a path through the wilderness, encouraging runaways to follow animal tracks and natural landmarks to avoid capture.
The Bow Tie Block: Said to indicate the need for a change of
clothes or a disguise—essential for escaping detection as one moved from place to place.
The Flying Geese Block: Inspired by the northward migration of geese, this pattern pointed the way toward freedom,
encouraging travelers to follow nature’s guide.
These patterns, common in quilts of the time, may have served
both as practical bedding and silent messages of hope.
Quilting Techniques of the Era
Quilting during the 18th and 19th centuries was done by hand, with scraps of fabric pieced together in patchwork designs or layered into whole-cloth quilts. African Americans, both enslaved and free, became skilled at these techniques, blending African textile aesthetics with European-American forms. Quilting was often a communal task, done in groups for warmth, necessity, and solidarity. Without access to books or written patterns, Black quilters passed designs down through memory and oral instruction, creating deeply personal and symbolic works
of art.
African American quilting has long been a form of cultural expression, storytelling, and survival. Rooted in West African
traditions, quilts often featured bright colors, bold geometry, and improvisational patterns. These works served practical purposes and preserved history, embodying generations of resilience under oppression.
Today, this legacy continues. Many people are learning to make their own quilt blocks inspired by the
Underground Railroad.
A wonderful instructional resource is Underground
Railroad Sampler by Eleanor Burns and Sue Bouchard, which teaches the history and techniques behind these
meaningful designs, ensuring this tradition is carried forward.
From the Underground Railroad to Juneteenth
The ingenuity of those who sought freedom on the Underground Railroad is honored each year on Juneteenth—June
19th, 1865—the day the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation. Just as quilts may have quietly guided the journey north, Juneteenth celebrates the long and hard-won arrival at liberty. Today, quilts are still part of Juneteenth commemorations, representing both remembrance
and hope as African American communities continue to tell their
stories and claim their freedom.
Our story of liberation—told through the hidden codes of music, dance, and quilting—remains a powerful symbol of
strength, creativity, and self-determination. That legacy calls us to continue the struggle for true freedom, breaking the invisible chains of systemic oppression that still seek to confine our minds and our communities today.
