OMM: The Spirit of Freedom, Special Issue. Spring 2022

Special Issue

All Black Women Are Part Of One Matrix

Spring 2022

T

H

E

SPIRIT FREEDOM OF

Harriet Tubman@200

EMANCIPATING EMOTIONALLY

with

Erika Totten

Freedom Ain’t Free The Story Quilt & The Quilts and Crafts of the Sankofa Artisans Guild of Philadelphia.

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OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

Sign of the Times

Explore Your Vision

Chet Highsmith Visual Artist, Visionary, Instructor

O ri g i na l s & Pri nt s Abstracts

Acrylics

Oils

Coffee Charcoal

Still life Landscapes

www.chethighsmithart.com 267.679.5811 267.521.CHET (2438) 3

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

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Contents

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From The Editor

@The_OMM_Collective

Long Road To Freedom, Are We There Yet?

12 The Spirit of Freedom

Araminta Ross. or Harriet Tubman, has for the past 200 years represented the spirit of freedom. A self-emancipator who helped to free the minds and bodies of many Black people was recently honored in Philadelphia. She still continues to inspire freedom in countless ways.

Have we honored her and others enough?

30 Freedom Ain’t Free

Story Quilt by Ra’sheeda Bey & The Quilts of the Sankofa Artisans Guild’s , Dreams of Freedom: The Threads That Hold Us Together E xhibit

#Harriettubmanday March 10

Ra’Sheeda Bey ’s quilt, “Freedom Ain’t Free” story quilt -- a quilt that honors Araminta Ross/Harriet Tubman was recently on display inside of City Hall in Philadelphia, PA. Her quilt was among many other quilts and crafts created by members of the Sankofa Artisans Guild - a collective of Black women quilters and craft artists.

Honorable Mentions

The quiltmakers and craftswomen of the Sankofa Artisans Guild whose quilts or crafts do not appear in this issue but were a part of the Dreams of Freedom exhibit.

The exhibit includes: Gloria Brown, Lenora Brown, Frances Conwell, Gloria Gammage Davis, Leslie Garrett Harris, Ingrid Humphrey, Marilyn Hamilton Jackson, Adrienne Jessups, Asake Denise Foye Jones, Martha Jones-Carter, Veronica Mays, Barbara McCrowell, Monna Morton, Jaye-Tremille McNair Obaseki, Hermine Porter-Bell, Karen Robinson, & Akilah t’Zuberi.

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Erika Totten Emotionally Emancipating

In this profile, the healer, activist, joy facilitator, spiritual life coach, mother and wife shares a few thoughts on emotionally freeing ourselves - another big step in self-emancipating.

Image Credit, Sidney Thomas Used with permission

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Special Issue

ONE

MATRIX

This issue is dedicated to the great Araminta Ross — better known as Harriet Tubman. OMM honors her in her bicentennial year. Advertising opportunities are available. Please send inquiries to s2ndrising@yahoo.com

The Team C. Chekejai Coley “Rev Bev.” Saunders Biddle Beverly Paul Tina Marie Coley

Creative Director Senior Editor Managing Editor Issue Advisor, Editor, & Researcher Lauren Truitt Graphic Design & Creative Contributor Images & Credits @kennie143, Nappy.co

Clarence Alford, Pixabay

“Hands in Sunflowers @alyssasieb, Nappy.co

David Zzyd, Pixabay

DGJ, Pixabay

Special Thanks

The Ida B. Wells The Light of Truth cap is available at Shopify.

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

Nappy.Co, Pixabay, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Erika Knight, Simone Christian, Sidney Thomas, Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant, Kimberly Johanson and the Makerspace of Howard County Public Library.

All images from Nappy.Co. and Pixabay used by permission. Images of William Still, The Emancipator, The Underground Rail Road book cover & The Provincial Freeman are public domain images. All other images not credited were taken by members of OMM. Images of disintegrating chains were created with the help of Lauren Truitt, graphic artist and creative contributor in the Makerspace of the Howard County Library.

COMING TO THE FRONT POSTER SERIES

ONE MATRIX

COMING TO THE FRONT POSTER SERIES FOR THE SCHOOL, CLASSROOM & HOME

@The_OMM_Collective

One-Matrix.Myshopify.com

issuu.com/designingsistas

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200

Year Commemoration

Free Woman

c. 1822 - 2022

Abolitionist Suffragist Conductor Humanitarian General Liberator Emancipator S/Hero OMM, 2022

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

From The Editor

Long Road to Freedom: Are We There Yet? “I can see that my choices were never truly mine alone – and that that is how it should be, that to assert otherwise is to chase after a sorry sort of freedom.”

– Pres. Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father

The preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America begins with the words “We the People of the United States.” It references, among other things, the establishment of justice, promotion of the general welfare, and securing the “Blessings of Liberty.”

The Constitution was signed in Convention in 1787 and ratified by nine of the original thirteen states in 1788, and finally by the last of the thirteen in 1791.

Drafted following a revolution to secure freedom from tyranny of the British crown; one must ask “liberty for whom?” Certainly, there were enslaved Africans in this newly formed nation that were excluded from the lofty promises. To gain the support of the southern slave-holding states, a compromise was made and subsequently codified by this very Constitution: The Three-Fifths Compromise. As a result, a state’s representation in the U. S. Congress would be determined by counting five of the enslaved as three persons within each state. Of course, this gave the slaveholding states an added measure of voting power in Congress.

It was not until 1865 that this Compromise was gutted with the ratification of the 13th Amendment which outlawed enslavement of Black people. And, then not until 1868 that it was superseded altogether by the ratification of the 14th Amendment which gave freed “slaves” full weight as citizens. Yet, were the formerly enslaved people really “free?”

Yes, Merriam-Webster defines freedom as liberation from slavery. It also states that freedom is “the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.” Do African-Americans have a full measure of freedom; have they ever had; will they ever have? I’d like to believe it will happen.

Our “Aunt Harriet”, as Ms. Tubman is respectfully called, risked her life to gain her own freedom from

enslavement and to secure that same result for hundreds of her people. And, since her gallant efforts from her escape to Philadelphia in 1849 until her death in upstate New York in 1913; and the tireless work of others into the 21st century, much “progress” has been made on behalf of African Americans in this country. There have been serious efforts to gain equality. However, is equality the same as equity?

I argue that people who look like Harriet have never been free if it also means being able to live equitably. There have been barriers on every front – in education, health care, housing, voting rights, economics, the criminal justice system . . . you name it. Even to this day, as we applaud the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to gain a seat on the United States Supreme Court, we are reminded of the hurdles that had to be overcome for that to be accomplished that would not have been obstacles placed in front of someone of a lighter hue.

Are we there yet? Sadly, my conclusion is that we aren’t. We have “miles to go before we sleep.” As Harriet admonished those she was leading to the north – “keep going.”

Rev. Beverly Saunders Biddle

Ordained and certified through Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant’s Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development, Rev. Bev. coaches, teaches and facilitates; supporting us to live a life of manifested vision and purpose.

Contact info: (P) 202-717-2015 or (E) weministries2@gmail.com.

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“

Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

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SPIRIT OF

FREEDOM

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O

n March 10, 2022, the City of Philadelphia held a 200th birthday celebration for Araminta Ross/ Harriet Tubman.

It was actually a celebration of her life on the day of her transition (physical death) but in the Black community, we celebrate life when someone leaves the planet so it fits as a Celebration of Life, so-tospeak. The event was put on by the Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy who also sponsored Dreams of Freedom: The Threads That Hold Us Together — a quilt exhibit that featured Harriet Tubman by the Sankofa Artisans Guild (SAG), a collective of Black women who quilt and make other crafts. The Charles Blockson Library as well as the Lest We Forget Museum also sponsored the Dreams of Freedom exhibit. Ms. Tubman’s exact birthdate is not known. She was born enslaved between 1820 and 1822 in the Old South (Maryland) — the state from which she subsequently escaped. White enslavers did not often accurately document the birth of Black babies or the people that they enslaved, so her actual birthdate is not known.

After making her departure out of enslavement in 1849 and leaving the South, Ms. Tubman arrived in Philadelphia in 1849 where she met William Still — a businessman, abolitionist, writer and noted “Father of the Underground Railroad.” William Still also authored the book, The Underground Rail Road: A Record. In the book he documents the stories and arrivals of the people who emancipated themselves from enslavement. He also financed many of Ms. Tubman’s trips South to help emancipate others held in captivity.

With regards to the celebration put on by the City of Philadelphia, surprisingly there wasn’t much fanfare considering how she traveled to Philadelphia early in her freedom journey in 1849 linking up with Mr. Still. His 200th Birthday was celebrated last fall (October 2021) — also without much fanfare. On the 10th (of March) I, along with many others, had to find our way to a quiet side entrance of City Hall. I wandered with one other woman in and out of a couple of doors of City Hall asking for directions. A guard directed us to the Visitor Center. The lights were off at the time so it was fairly dim but we could see

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

a bespectacled Black man sitting quietly behind a glass display counter. He directed us to another nearby door where a few others asked if they were in the right place. There was no sign, no single balloon tied to a nearby pole or railing, no flier posted to a wall.

Her name was nowhere to be found, not even on the Journey To Freedom statue that stood temporarily outside of City Hall on the North side — a statue placed on the ground below every other statue — all men, mostly white — Just sayin’. It’s cool to feel like you can run to freedom with her, but a higher level would emphasize her honor just like the surrounding statutes of white men.

Back on track. It was her 200th year celebration and not one firework or spark. Did the public schools know about the event? Did it stream on Facebook or IG? Even directly inside, there were no signs letting people know that Harriet Tubman, our “Queen” of American emancipation, a monumental shero who — along with other self-liberators upset the system of enslavement, was being celebrated for her work in liberating the bodies and minds of Black people.

How could the entire city not know? Why wasn’t the door, at least, decorated?

Once inside, the guards simply checked names off the guest list, directed folks to the elevator, and to the 2nd floor. They were courteous but still no sign of a festivity. I don’t think that they even smiled.

Outside of one slightly overcrowded room —the mayor’s reception room — on the 2nd floor, there was no real indication that it was happening. There was no sign, no arrow, no North Star or quilt code —a symbol used in quilt designs to help direct those freeing themselves from Southern enslavement to safe houses and stations along the Underground Railroad — leading the way although the quilts designed in her honor by SAG sat quietly in display cases outside of the room and on other floors as part of the quilt exhibit. The quilts ranged in impressive designs, all with her as the theme and with many containing quilt

codes. There were maybe 25 people in the hall — which served as the overflow as the reception room was standing room only. The people in the hallway overflow were being courteous to each other, fluidly moving to the side or pinning themselves against a case, so that everyone could peek in often and not miss much of the celebration. There was one newslike camera in the center of the room there but I am still looking for the story on a news program.

The celebration itself was beautiful. Amazing speakers from the community, as well as local politicians and direct descendants spoke in her honor. There was even an amazing cake made by Pamela Thornton, owner of Pound Cake Heaven, a local Black-woman owned, family-run bakery. And, Jeannine Cook, of Harriet’s Bookshop in North Philadelphia encouraged attendees to write letters to Congress to have a day in honor of Harriet Tubman. Millicent Spark also performed a re-enactment of Harriet Tubman. She convincingly recited her famous line about never losing a passenger and staying on track as she guided folks stealthy out of the dangers of the south. How’s that for focused efforts?

After the event I walked around the halls to look at other quilts which were spread out on the 3rd and 4th floors — those areas were equally as quiet. I was surprised about the dead silence in the heavily marbled halls. Why weren't there more people looking at this work or watching the event remotely or from a fixed monitor outside of City Hall? Was there a moment of reflecWilliam Still, Father of the Underground Railroad, Abolitionist, Wtiter, Businessman and Financer of Harriet Tubman’s Freedom Journeys Image: Public Domain

tion? Why was there no parade in her honor? It should have looked more like the super bowl parade a few years back when the Eagles won. Energy helps. Yep, I said it. C’mon Philly! Her likeness should have been all over the city. Speaking of energy, was she on the PECO (Philadelphia Electric Company) Building washing over it as colored lights like the Eagles green in 2018? Why not? Is she not monumental enough? We are here 200 years later celebrating the spirit of a free Black woman — ­ a spirit that continues to inspire. Harriet Tubman has long been held as a woman who has been able to not only emancipate herself from the tyranny of enslavement but also freed scores of other people in her lifetime through return trips to the South and her involvement in the northern militia during the Civil War. Although the statement about her freeing a thousand and that she would have freed a thousand more had they known of their state as enslaved people is in question, it brings to mind a number of things: 1. What are the things that set the spirit of some free? And 2. What are the many facets of emancipation?

Harriet Tubman had an intrinsic understanding of freedom on multiple levels. She understood that freedom was in-part, a knowing ­— a mental conditioning and a system of beliefs in one’s condition that helps to enslave the mind of a person and vice versa. A person had to know that freedom is possible for them to be truly free.

She understood that she and others could experience freedom. The physical release is, in fact, an effect of the belief.

She also knew that freedom was a communal effort over an individual one, and if someone wanted to return to enslavement that would jeopardize the freedom of others. For the good of all, there was no turning back. She undoubtedly stated that, “if you want to taste freedom, keep going.” So, let’s go.

Beyond her connection to freedom, she recognized her connection with her Higher Self as what would ultimately guide her to freeHarriet Tubman Cake Created by Pond Cake Heaven Photo Credit, OMM

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Wisdom Wall Mural, Near Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD Iandry Randriamandroso, Artist Photo Credit: OMM OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

Harriet Tubman Mural, Cambridge, MD Michael Rosato, Artist Photo Credit: OMM 17

dom - the true spirit of freedom and that freedom is what continues to expand, then and now.

Harriet Tubman embodied so much more of that freedom over the course of her lifetime. In addition to being a great emancipator she was also an abolitionist, a suffragist and a humanitarian.

To this day, she still inspires people to be free in every way possible - to keep going.

#Harriettubmanday

Underground Rail Road. A Record Book Cover Public Domain Images Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial Statue in Harlem, NY. Alison Saar, Artist Photo Credit, OMM

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

Stuff we checked out, read, watched, listened to and researched. This is just some of it, though. There is a wealth of information on Harriet Tubman!

Bradford, S. H. (1869). The Project Gutenberg eBook of Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman, by Sarah H. Bradford. Www.Gutenberg.Org. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/57821/57821-h/57821-h.htmpp 77-81 Guzman, F., & Gast, P. (2020, March 10). A Timeline of the Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman. Www.Phillytrib.Com. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.phillytrib.com/news/across_ america/a-timeline-of-the-life-and-legacy-of-harriet-tubman/article_193bb0c0-9045-5473-9b8a-5054133b0008.html Harriet Tubman. A stage play (1935). May Miller. * Hunter, K. [https://www. youtube. com/channel/UCVbKWqUXDRdspaJ2v-prwnQ]. (2021, February 7). In Class with Carr, Ep. 49: The Importance of Black History Month [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQYCDCiDKL4 24:45 28:00 In Class with Carr, Ep. 13: What is Juneteenth? (2020, June 19).

[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOUvAU88dg8 2:00 - 10:55 *In Class with Carr, Ep. 49: The Importance of Black History Month. (2021, February 6). [Video]. YouTube. https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=AQYCDCiDKL4&t=1698sKPFA. (2021, February 18).

The Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman. Https://Kpfa.Org/. https:// kpfa.org/area941/episode/the-life-and-legacy-of-harriet-tubman/ Racial Trauma. (n.d.). Mental Health America. Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://www.mhanational.org/racial-trauma Self-Emancipation - Martin Van Buren National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service). (2020, November 2). Https://Www.Nps. Gov/Index.Htm. https://www.nps.gov/mava/learn/historyculture/ self-emancipation.htm Still, W. (1872). The Underground Rail Road: A record of facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters &C., Narrating the Hardships Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom (Nicely Re-imaged Loose Leaf Facsimile).

Porter & Coates.

Wright, M. D. (2007a). Broken Utterances: A Selected Anthology of 19th Century Black Women’s Social Thought. Three Sistahs Press, LLC.Wright, M. D. (Ed.). (2007b). Harriet Tubman. In Broken Utterances (pp. 86–91). Three Sistahs Press.

Mililicent Spark as Harriet Tubman Photo Credit: OMM 19

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FACTS: “According to the Psychology Department at the University of Georgia (2020), over 60% of Black Americans will experience at least one incident of racial discrimination in their lifetime. Racial trauma can be both individual and communal.”

“Racial trauma can also be developed vicariously through someone else’s experience or even intergenerationally (it can literally be in our DNA).

Some of the negative outcomes related to racial trauma include depression, anxiety, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses. Symptoms of racial trauma can include depression, anger, recurring thoughts of the traumatizing event, physical reactions (i.e. headaches and chest pains), trouble sleeping, and low self-esteem.”

The Black Collective. (2020, August 17). Coping With Racial Trauma. Https://Www.Theblkcollective.Org/.

Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.theblkcollective.org/ourvoices/coping-with-racial-trauma

Photo Credit: @RootedColors, Nappy.co 21

EMANCIPATING EMOTIONALLY Erika Totten

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rika Totten, creator of Unchained Envisioning is someone who is continuing the efforts of Harriet Tubman in many ways. Mrs. Totten is the facilitator of an Emotional Emancipation Circle in Washington, DC. Emotional Emancipation Cir-

help us be at our best as individuals and as a people.”

EECs are safe, culturally connected spaces where the participants deconstruct the effects of racism and reconstructs a sense of humanness in a cultural context.

It involves learning how to recognize how racism impacts us, how to understand the effects on the body and, how to relieve the stress through collective, mindful practices of breathing, joy practices and physical movements.

Mrs. Totten’s work through this biweekly exchange is helping to free the minds and bodies of Black folks from the effects of racial trauma. It’s a different kind of “run” towards freedom but its extensively meaningful. Ms. Totten shares a few thoughts on communal progress, being unapologetic and how to live free.

“...we inherited resilience and joy.”

cles or EECs are cultural support meetings created by the Association of Black Psychologists and the Community Healing Network to help Black, queer and trans folks reflect on their feelings, connect with themselves, release stress, regulate emotionally and ground themselves while deconstructing racism and the impacts and the complexities of it. In short, it’s a place where Black folks/folx can reflect on the way that racism has impacted them through individual and collective experiences, what those experiences have come to mean and to come into the absolute truth about them in ways that help guide them to healing and bringing them closer to wholeness.

According to the Community Healing Network, “EECs are liberatory spaces in which Black people share stories; deepen our understanding of the impact of historical forces on our sense of self-worth, our relationships, and our communities; and learn essential emotional wellness skills to

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

OMM: Black people have experienced trauma throughout generations and throughout many centuries now. The trauma experienced has created a number of challenges within the context of our communities as well as throughout the diaspora. And, the traumas have created a type of implosion within the context of our communities. In some ways you can see some, gentle progress but, in your opinion, is healing possible for Black people?

ET: Absolutely, it’s happening. We inherited trauma and, we inherited resilience and joy. We have to hold space for each other.

OMM: In the EECs that you facilitate, part of what you teach is how to not be apologetic — to not be sorry — to not compromise yourself, your spirit, in such a way. What does it mean to be unapologetic?

ET: Being unapologetic means, Being you and

Image Credit, Sidney Thomas

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“We have to hold space for each other.”

E. Totten

@kennie143, Nappy.co

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

not dimming your light.

OMM: Living unchained is a powerful concept. It’s very visual when you reflect on the history and experience of Black people universally. The concept alone feels freeing, liberating. And, really, it’s kind of self-explanatory but, in your words, what does it mean to live unchained?

ET: Recognize where there are chains [lies, misinformation and how we respond to them] and break free without apology.

Please note: Mrs.Totten is not a therapist and EECs are not group counseling sessions. Contact the Community Healing Network, the ABPSI or OMM’s own Rev. Beverly Saunders Biddle at weministries2@gmail.com for further resources or, for support in locating or implementing counseling services.

“Free your mind and your a-- will follow, the kingdom of heaven is within.”

G. Clinton, P-Funk

To Live Unchained www.Erikatotten.com @toliveunchained

Erika Totten, founder of Unchained Visioning is a healer, activist, spiritual life coach, joy practitioner, joy facilitator, and community builder. She is a Certified Emotional Emancipation Circle Trainer & Facilitator for The Association of Black Psychologists & the Community Healing Network from Washington, DC. She is also the co-creator of Black Lives Matter DC, a core member of Harriet’s Apothecary in New York and a co-creator of the Wildseed Society. Mrs. Totten has a B.S. in Journalism & Mass Communication from North Carolina A&T State University. She is a wife and a mother of two children.

“And the truth of who you are will set you free.”

E. Totten

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R

a’Sheeda Bey is a 4th generation Master Quilter, Doll Maker, Cultural Historian and Cultural Worker from Philadelphia, PA. Ms. Bey learned quilting and doll making from her mother, grandmother and aunts at a very young age and has been creating both ever since. Over the past four decades she has taught quilting and doll making to generations of people in schools, universities, community centers and spiritual centers throughout the City of Philadelphia. Ms. Bey created a commemorative quilt for ODUNDE, Inc. (Philadelphia) to celebrate its 30 year anniversary in 2005. The ODUNDE Festival is one of the longest running African-American festivals in the nation. Ms. Bey created a quilt to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the Corinthian Baptist Church in Philadelphia and she also ceated the first African American heirloom doll, specifically designed to be passed down through generations. Over the course of the past fifty years, Ms. Bey has made over 100 quilts to gift as well as to sell.

Ms. Bey’s art reflects decades of research into the ways that quilting and doll making has served Black people from quilt codes that helped Black people free themselves from enslavement to the use of dolls to conceal and transport medical supplies during early wars.

Ms. Bey created the Freedom Ain’t Free quilt in honor of the great abolitionist Harriet Tubman. This year (2022) marks the 200th year celebration of the life, legacy and heroic efforts of Ms. Tubman.

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“I never ran my tra About The Quilt:

“The quilt depicts Harriet Tubman in her journey when she first came here to Philadelphia. I have one block from when she was struck in the head. She would have spells. She would just pass out but she woke up with a knowing. She knew what to do to remove herself, and other people, from enslavement. I took segments of her life and then I put the quilt together.

I just admire her courage and faith that she had in the Creator and what she did for us as a people...”.

R. Bey

Designed, pieced, appliquéd, embroidered and tied by R. Bey. Materials: Cotton, Leather & Wood.

Shotgun: Hand carved by Jerry Dantzer of Philadelphia, PA. The leather used for Ms. Tubman’s bag, and all shoes, are from a jacket once owned by singer, Luther Vandross.

Pieces of the jacket were given to Ms. Bey by his cousin, Brenda Nzinga Shields.

“...I never OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

ain off the track...”

lost a passenger.”

Journey to Freedom Statue by Wesley Wofford is currently on display outside of City Hall in downtown Philadelphia. The statue is digitally wrapped in the Freedom Ain’t Free Quilt made by Ms. Bey.

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Quilts of the Sankofa Artisans Guild of Philadelphia, PA. STORY OF THE QUILT CODES

“There are five square knots on the quilt every two inches apart.

They escaped on the fifth knot on the tenth pat­tern and went to Ontario, Canada. The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on a bear’s paw trail to the crossroads. Once they got to the crossroads, they dug a log cabin on the ground.

Shoofly told them to dress up in cotton and satin bow ties and go to the cathedral church, get married and exchange double wedding rings. Flying geese stay on the drunkard’s path and follow the stars” - Ozella McDaniel Williams, Code Keeper

Quilt codes were used along the Underground Railroad to help those who sought emancipation escape the institution of slavery.

Each code conveyed a meaning and provided a direction.

Drunkard’s Path, Bear Claw, North Star, & Flying Geese Codes are from the Swing Low Statue.

Image Credit, OMM

All Image Credits, Tina Marie Coley

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

Harriet Tubmant, Ramsess

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HFJ Detail

HFJ Detail

North Star to Freedom, Julie Simmons

HFJ Detail

Harriet’s Freedom Journal, (HFJ) Cassandra Stancil Grunkel

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Keep Going, Maisha Sullivan

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Tubman’s Underground Railroad, Toya R. B. Thomas Image Credit, Tina Marie Coley

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And Still We Rise, Marilyn Hamilton Jackson Image Credit, Tina Marie Coley

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African Cathedral Windows, Adrienne Jessups

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Which Way Is Home, Rose Miller

Tubman 200th Memorial Vernyce Dannells

Underground Railroad Story, Dorothy Bennett Image Credits, Tina Marie Coley

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

Survivor & Still Standing Pat McLean-Smith

Shadow Warrior Frances Conwell

Dancing Freedom, Ring Shout, Rose Miller

Contemporary Tribute, Sandee Nisenfeld

The Road to Freedom, Hermine Porter-Bell

Harriet Tubman, Barbara Jones

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OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022

No Lost Sheep

Beverly Paul Contemporary Artist www.beverlypaulsart.com beverlypaulsart@yahoo.com 47

Buy Fair trade Help save lives and help improve the global economy

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Ask your grocer and coffee shops to carry Fairtrade products.

OMM: Special Issue, Spring 2022