The Secret Codes in African American Quilts and Adinkra Symbols: History and Meaning
Quilting Fabric Symbols Mirror African and African American Spirituality and History
Quilting has long been more than decoration — it’s storytelling, survival, and resistance. African slaves combined quilt patterns and hand sewing as a path to freedom on the Underground Railroad, using visual codes when words could not be spoken aloud.
Ancient Quilting Traditions
No one knows exactly when quilting began, but evidence in the Temple of Osiris at Abydos, Egypt, shows quilted clothing was worn 5,000 years ago. An ivory carving in the British Museum depicts Egypt’s first dynasty king wearing a quilted mantle scarf.
Long before newspapers or books, and before Europeans arrived in the Americas, quilt history began as a practical art. Pre–Civil War quilting (1619–1865) didn’t follow the research standards we use today, but oral history kept the stories alive.
Coded Quilts of African Freedom
Documented evidence of coded Underground Railroad quilts didn’t appear in print until the late 1990s, when South Carolina quilt seller Ozella McDaniel Williams shared her family’s story. According to her, enslaved men and women created symbolic quilt blocks to guide escape routes. Though some historians remain skeptical due to lack of physical proof, secrecy was vital for survival — leaving little written record.
Common Quilt Patterns and Their Meanings
- Monkey Wrench – Signaled it was time to prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually for escape.
- Wagon Wheel – Told slaves to pack supplies and be ready for a long journey.
- Bow Tie / Hourglass – Indicated an Underground Railroad conductor was present to help them leave.
- Bear’s Paw – Directed travelers to follow animal tracks toward water and safe food sources.
- Drunkard’s Path – Encouraged zigzag travel to avoid slave catchers and dogs.
- Flying Geese – Pointed the way north, following the seasonal flight of geese.
- Log Cabin – A quilt with a black center square displayed at a home could mean safety for fugitives.
Adinkra Symbols: Africa’s Visual Language
Quilt coding parallels West African Adinkra symbols — visual icons that represent proverbs, beliefs, and history. The Akan people of Ghana created this symbolic writing long before colonial contact.
Sankofa comes from “san” (return) + “ko” (go) + “fa” (seek). It teaches that knowing your history empowers your future. Just like decoding Adinkra, interpreting quilts required understanding hidden meaning passed orally across generations.
Quilting as Living Memory
Though proof of coded quilts remains debated, their legend continues to inspire. Oral histories of freedom quilts show how enslaved Africans used creativity and secrecy to survive. Like Adinkra, these codes preserved culture and offered hope under oppression.