Major Theme:

Slaves forbidden to read and write told stories through their quilts.  These stars in the world of African-American folk art provide a social history of African-American in the 17th-19th centuries.
 

Summary:

This historic narrative of Harriet Powers life also contains a wealth of information about quilts and the role quilts played in African-American history.

In 1886, at the age of forty-nine, Harriet Powers began work on a very special quilt.  This quilt would be more than just a coverlet.  It would be a diary of her spiritual life.  Made of 299 applique`d pieces of cloth, this quilt depicted biblical stories that Harriet had heard growing up.  It is now a treasure in the collection of Smithsonian Institution.  Twelve years later, Harriet finished her second story quilt, this time taking inspiration from folk tales as well as religious stories.  This is a story of Harriet Powers and her beautiful quilts.  To her, they were as precious as her children. 

 

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

What did Harriet Powers call her quilts?  Why do you think she gave them this name?

What did Harriet Powers call her quilts?  Why do you think she gave them this name?

Slave women were involved in making textiles.  What are some steps in making fabric into cloth?

Question #4

Life for a slave was hard.  Give some examples of how life was hard for slave women.

Question #5

Explain the value of quilts.
 

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

How did quilts provide:
entertainment
fun for everyone
romance
 

What does jump the broom mean?  What is your think about marriage among slaves on the plantations?

What was the most moving part of Harriet's story about the Civil War and it's aftermath?

Competition for food in 1866 was fierce.  How did laws in the South restrict black people from acquiring food?

Question #10

What events did you like best at the Cotton Fair Celebration in Clarke County?

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

Why did Harriet sell her quilt "child" to Jennie Smith?
 

Explain what you think the title of this book means.

How are Harriet's story quilts and African cloth-art alike?

Question #14

Read page 36.  Tell how Harriet Power's quilts are like crossroads where the best ideas of many cultures meet.

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

What qualities do you think made Harriet a hero?

Design a 9 piece story quilt about a simple fairy tale:  Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, or a story of your choice.  Use construction paper and the applique` process.

Research the life of a slave on a plantation.  Create a story book of your research

Research one of the following cotton topics and write 10 facts from your research to share with the class.
Industrial Revolution
King Cotton Economy
Textile Industry
Eli Whitney
Cotton: Planting to textile

Extension #4

Use the internet to research facts about quilts at the Smithsonian Institution.

Extension #5

Draw a quilt picture from Stitching Stars.  Try to make an applique quilt piece on paper or using needle, thread and cloth.