- UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STORY FOR KIDS PRINATBLE CODE
- UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STORY FOR KIDS PRINATBLE FREE
During the journey, what few clothes the slaves had would become tattered and threadbare. Shoo-Fly - If this design was seen hanging it indicated that someone would aid and temporarily give shelter to the escaping slaves.īow Tie - This indicated that the travelers should dress decently to avoid suspicion. Yellow meant to watch for a lantern light. A black block meant the house from which it hung was a safe house. A red center block represented the hearth of the cabin. Log Cabin - The cabin could mean several things. From there water routes to Canada took the slaves to freedom. On the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland was the main crossroad with a number of overland trails that all came together there. This block, much like the song 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot,' was a signal to follow directions and travel north to Ohio.īear Paw - A bear will travel to food and water, so this block advises the slaves to follow literally a bear's trail through the woods to find something to eat and drink.īasket - Food and provisions were always in short supply, and abolitionists would hang this quilt in view to indicate that food and tools were available to those who were in need.Ĭrossroads - The crossroads were towns and cities where the travelers could find safety and protection.
Wagon Wheel - This symbol's message was to pack up those possessions they had been collecting and get ready for the trip.Ĭarpenter's Wheel - The carpenter in this case was Jesus. Tools, food, any money the slaves possessed should be secured. Monkey Wrench - It is time to collect and organize for the trip. Jacob's Ladder - The angled path could be used to indicate which way to go by the quilt's position.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STORY FOR KIDS PRINATBLE FREE
It's difficult to separate fiction and lore from fact, but regardless of your take on the theory, these quilt blocks create a charming and heartwarming quilt top that pays tribute to those who struggled to make a free life for themselves and their families.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STORY FOR KIDS PRINATBLE CODE
It is said that abolitionists and free blacks along the route of the Underground Railroad would hang these code quilts on wash lines, from windows or porch rails as an inconspicuous way to keep the travelers informed.
However, since slaves were forbidden to learn to read, this would be a concise, pictorial method of conveying advice and directions, and since quilts were used daily it seems unlikely that these quilts would have survived to tell the tale.
0 kommentar(er)
