A teacher who loved teaching and singing spirituals designed this project. She wanted to find a way to celebrate Black History month with computers. Her students designed a CD cover using Adobe Photoshop based on some of the spirituals they learned. Then described their feelings and the artistic process they used to express this songs using technology.
In planning this unit with Mrs. Moore, a geography teacher, she mentioned some materials she had found about how quilt design were used as codes in the Underground Railroad..
You will: Learn About Underground Railroad Secret Codes Used in Spirituals & Quilts.
You will create a CD cover for a fictitious CD single to be released as a gift for a $25.00 donation to the local Underground Railroad museum based on a documentary on Underground Railroad Quilts. The back of each cover will contain the original spiritual lyrics you wrote.
Using the 12 example quilt squares, discuss what they would mean to a slave in preparation for escape as well as along a path to freedom. Stitching and even the type of materials used were also infused in this complex code. While not as much info was found in this area, we know that the African culture was very sophisticated in this way of communicating through their story-telling traditions. Since most slaves weren’t allowed to learn to read, the Underground Railroad system found this system of communication gave them a built-in "spy code."
QUILTERS: Each of you choose 1 of 4 different quilting squares that help the slaves along the chosen path.
*Recreate an individual quilt pattern using Adobe Photoshop.
*Rotate the shapes if necessary, and fill them with colors that you think represent the message.
*If you’re feeling very ambitious, you may also try your hand at some "code lyric" writing!
CODE LYRICISTS: Write lyrics to a spiritual similar to "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (visit http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/planetarium/ftdg1.htm
*Try to make your lyrics rhyme and flow for authenticity.
*Remember, "call & response" was common in spirituals and work songs. Feel free to use this pattern when writing your song.
*Your lyrics should follow the sequence of the quilting squares you chose, and the path you chose.
Your project should look something like this when combined: (CD SAMPLE)