Created and Quilted by Susan Hopkins, 2003 – 2004
The Underground Railroad Quilt was inspired by several of my passions:
- The history of Quakers and the Underground Railroad,
- The African American spirituals as connected to freedom, and
- Quilting as a way of storytelling.
Activities merged to support my creation of the quilt which I would ultimately title “Wade in the Water.”
- At the Friends General Conference, held by Quakers in 2003, I took the workshop, “Quilting and the Underground Railroad.”
- Earlier that summer I read the book, Stitching Stars: The Story quilts of Harriet Powers, by Mary Lyons, and was intrigued and delighted by the expressive Bible story quilts made years ago by Harriet Powers.
- Finally, The Children’s Music Network presented Deborah Pittman who layered African-American spirituals together to create a collage of harmonious spiritual music in a group singing tradition.
The quilt began as a single block depicting the story and song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd” stitched in the appliquéd style modeled by Harriet Powers. It shows Peg Leg Joe leading the slaves out of the river to freedom guided by the Big Dipper and the North Star.
Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd
Follow the drinkin’ gourd! Follow the drinkin’ gourd!
For the old man is a-waitin’ for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinkin’ gourd.
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls
Follow the drinkin’ gourd
For the old man is a-waiting’ to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin’ gourd.
The river bank will make a mighty good road
The dead trees will show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot, travelin’ on
Follow the drinkin’ gourd.
The second appliquéd block was created using a parallel theme which showed Moses leading the People of Israel to freedom across the Red Sea, told in the story and song “Go Down Moses.”
When Israel was in Egypt’s land
“Let my people go!”
Oppressed so hard they could not stand
“Let my people go!”
Go down Moses,
way down in Egypt’s land
Tell ol’ Pharaoh to
let my people go!
The two pieced blocks are the “log cabin” and the “flying geese”, which were said to have been used in the quilts displayed for escaping slaves to indicate safe lodging was available. The black center square in the log cabin was a special signal that they were welcome, the story says.
The final title selected for the quilt, “Wade in the Water,” was chosen to draw upon the courage, faith in God, and the pursuit of justice by so many over the years. “Wade in the Water” speaks to us of God’s mercy as the waters of the Red Sea were parted and as the American rivers gave hope to those escaping bondage. God’s gonna trouble the waters for yet a long time to come.
Wade in the Water
Wade in the water, wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble the water.
Jordan River is chilly and cold, God’s gonna trouble the water.
It chills my body, but not my soul, God’s gonna trouble the water.
