Harriet Tubman's Underground railroad is a fascinating part of black history. My hometown is fortunate to have recently finished a nice black museum called The Harriet Tubman Museum. A textile artist, Winnie McQueen, has made a wonderful series of banners that hang in the rotunda about black history. There is a print of Jonathon Biggers work in the permanent collection.
During the times of the underground railroad, the shoo fly quilt is said to have played a significant part. Legend says the runaway slaves could find sympathizers in homes that had the shoo fly quilt hanging on a line.
For an art lesson about the shoo fly quilt, check out my lesson:
