New Book Documents Centuries of Black Quilting History and Artistry

A forthcoming book from Chronicle Books surveys the extensive history of Black quilting in the United States, spanning from the late 18th century to the present day. Titled "Stories in the Seams: A People's History of Black Quilts and Their Makers," the volume is researched and written by Sharbreon Plummer and is scheduled for release on October 6.

The book examines how quilting practices were shaped by the cotton industry and slavery in the American South, noting that enslaved women frequently produced bedspreads and textiles for plantation households. Following Emancipation, Plummer writes, Black individuals used quiltmaking and textile work to generate resources and build new lives during Reconstruction amid uncertainties surrounding labor, land, and citizenship.

The publication features a wide range of works, from early hand-appliqué cotton bedcovers and geometric patterns to contemporary narrative compositions. It includes pieces by the Quilters of Gee's Bend alongside 21st-century artists such as Bisa Butler, Basil Kincaid, and Faith Ringgold, whose practices expand the boundaries of the craft.

Historical works highlighted in the volume include Ruth Clement Bond's 1934 appliqué quilt design depicting a Black fist holding a red lightning bolt, flanked by the American flag and a blazing sun, which the book identifies as an enduring symbol of Black power and autonomy. Viola Burley Leak's "Watts Riot" (2021) addresses the 1965 uprising in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood, responding to racist abuse, poverty, and employment discrimination.

Other featured works include Aliyah Bonnette's "She Realized You Weren't the Sun" (2023), Tanekeya Word Harris's "not your great grandmother's fairytale" (2023), and the collaborative "Three Generation Quilt" (1983) by Elizabeth T. Scott and Joyce J. Scott. The book also references the folk narrative regarding quilt blocks potentially used as coded signals on the Underground Railroad, noting this has never been confirmed with solid evidence but remains a powerful instrument for meaning.

Plummer's research illuminates societal shifts and technological advances that influenced quilting methods, materials, and symbolism over centuries. The volume combines vibrant images of the quilts with archival photographs of the individuals who defined the tradition, offering a visual record alongside the historical analysis.

The book positions quilting as a continuous practice of storytelling, resistance, and cultural preservation. By documenting both celebrated and lesser-known makers, it aims to fill gaps in an oft-erased history of African American experience through the lens of textile art.

Chronicle Books will publish the richly illustrated volume on October 6, with pre-orders available through Bookshop.