17th January 2025
Reference:
Bell Hooks, “Aesthetic Inheritances: History Worked by Hand” from Yearning: Race, Gender, and Cultural Politics (Boston, MA: South End Press, 1990); reprinted in Belonging: A Culture of Place (New York: Routledge, 2019), 153-161. (Link)
Summary:
The essay Aesthetic Inheritances: History Worked by Hand celebrates the artistry and legacy of black women quiltmakers, focusing on the author’s grandmother, Sarah Hooks Oldham (Baba). It highlights the overlooked contributions of black women in quilting, exploring how the craft reflects their identity, resilience, and creativity. Quilting, passed down through generations, was both meditative and expressive, fostering community and connecting women to their ancestry.
The essay critiques the erasure of black women in quilt making history, challenging assumptions that privilege white narratives. It honors the resourcefulness of black women who transformed reused scraps into quilts rich with personal and historical significance. Baba’s work exemplifies this legacy, blending traditional techniques and storytelling into an art form rooted in memory and endurance.
Ultimately, the essay portrays quilts as more than functional objects—they are symbols of connection, carriers of stories, and testaments to the creativity and resilience of black women, reclaiming a history that deserves recognition.
Workshop
Collective display
