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The Birds in the Air quilt
pattern is symbolic of flight or migration and the dominant colored “arrows”
once pointed to the direction of safe travel for the slaves.
The Underground Railroad
was a network of abolitionists helping slaves escape to the north. Because
slaves were forbidden to read and write, the abolitionists devised a way to
communicate directions to safe territory. One of the ways was to hang quilts
with special patterns on the washing line or through an open window appearing
that the housewife was simply washing or airing the quilt.
