URR Quilts, will the myth ever die?

[BarbaraSmith]

That's so sad. I wish we could contact that Leslie Ross and let her know that some of her information is misinformation.

I'll bet she's interested enough in the true history to want to know the truth.

I really dislike that line about not sewing straight lines because they are bad luck. All the lovely work put into clothes and other items sewn by African American women are really getting a disservice there.

I'm so encouraged by her camp. It took a lot of guts and research to put that together. And to be the one and only black person (well, other than her "husband") at such an event took even more guts.

I was so appalled by a Civil War event I attended in Alabama, that I do not think I could ever attend another CW event in the south. I had to walk a 1/2 mile gauntlet of modern booths put up by the KKK and like-minded groups before I could even enter the camp. It was horrifying and sickening. Being yelled at to buy DVD's of the sex life of Martin Luther King Jr. was beyond belief. BTW, this happened about 3 years ago.

Ms. Ross has my undying respect for her guts in participating in this event.

Sadly,
B.

[KymR]

As a Middle School Social Studies Teacher, I must ask what everyones opinion is of presenting this as  "myth", specifically a popular one?  I teach slavery, the Underground Railroad and the War quite extensively and the whole quilt thing does come up.  I have looked through Tobin's book, and have looked at the information on both sides.  I will say I have seen very little on the arguement that the quilts were used as a map, or as a "sign" hung outside of safe houses.  The "story" that could make sense is that of a mother sitting with a daughter (fill in any other fortunate surviving slave family relation here), and talking of the hope of sometime excaping, and perhaps what means might make that possible.  Might this happen while they are quilting, perhaps, while they are mending, or any of the other seemingly endless necessary tasks, also maybe.  However it is undeniable that slaves talked secretly of excape, and yes, right under the masters noses in some cases.  That is the lesson I try to teach.  My students alway ask "why didnt they fight back", and my answer always is, they did, in hundreds of ways, from slowing work, to damaging equipment to stealing their freedom.  We must protray the slave population as the intelligent, brave, heroic and battered people that they were. 
So, my idea is to present the quilt story, because they will, and probably already have, hear it, as myth.   While giving them the necessary information, from the scarcity of textiles, to the silliness that people would understand what the flying geese pattern ment throughout the hidden network.  Thus allowing them to become the critical thinkers we hope our children will develop into.  This is how I approach teaching, I try to present the truth, even when it goes against all they have learned before.
I would appreciate your opinions.

Thank you.
Kym
(I must say I cringed when my son came home from Kindergarten with a beautifully colored caricature of a smiling and waving Columbus as he approached the Natives)

[Donna Rowan]

 Ran into this tonight. I don't think it has been posted before.  http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/Facts_and_Fabrications.html http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/UGRR_index.html

[Ms. Jean]

Oh, no!

http://www.visitrolla.com/event/1325873815


I think the local Chamber of Commerce should be required to contact their own Historical Society board before scheduling presentations....


Jean
Phelps Count Historical Society Board

[Joanna Jones]

Jean - are you going to contact them?

[Ms. Jean]

Electronically marshaling the PCHS Board right now. 

I already have a response from Mary Miley Theobald of the Debunking History's Myths blog, who provided some additional news coverage.   

The PCHS president pointed out that this is merely the chamber's calendar.  My own bank is hosting the event.

Ya'll are welcome to bombard the bank with information or a perhaps giant snood.

Jean
PCHS on Route 66

[maureenditchman]

I found this in a Cleveland newspaper the other day. The actual article showed quilt block patterns and what each one meant. The last paragraph does have a "true or not true" disclaimer, but after reading the article, noone will consider that.

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2012/02/threads_of_freedom_tells_story.html

It's Black History Month, so this myth will be all over the place!

[Donna Rowan]

From the article in the P.D.[ Whether the stories behind the quilts are true or not, the fact the history of the Underground Railroad is being told is the true mission of these quilts,? said guild member Gloria Kellon.]
Say what? Hummm...I was raised to believe a lie is a lie. It doesn't make it less of a lie if you quilt it into a bed cover. The quilts never had a "mission" to begin with, they never existed.The mission of the 1st original "slave code" quilt was to help an  imaginative old lady sell more quilts!  IMHO.
 Incidentally,Yesterday, I was looking at a new..but am unsure if it's the newest edition of Life Magazine it's the one with Chimney rock on the cover. It has a brief mention of quilts and a pic of a couple of Quilt blocks. I'm pretty sure it's about the whole quilt code thing ,but no sooner then I saw it I had a few customers in a row and then had to change regesters, before I got to get a better look at it at lunch, the Lady that changes our magazine's at the store , came and changed it out. Now they can say "well Life Magizen says it's so it must be true" good grief