Trace the path of 400 years of African American history through a timeline of 97 original quilts by contemporary artists
Contemporary quilt artists trace the path of Black history in the United States with 97 original works exploring important events, places, people, and ideas over 400 years. Arranged in chronological order, quilt themes include the first enslaved people brought to the US by Dutch traders in 1619, the brave souls marching for civil rights, the ascendant influence of African American culture on the American cultural landscape, and the election of the first African American president.
Other quilts commemorate and celebrate cultural milestones and memories, such as the first African American teacher, the Buffalo Soldiers, the first black man to play Othello on Broadway, Muhammed Ali, and Maya Angelou’s
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
.
The 69 artists who contributed works for this curated collection provide additional narrative context, explaining the important stories and histories behind the quilts.