Alabama's African American Quilts & the Freedom Quilting Bee
The International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln offers a wonderful online exhibit of African American quilts. Robert and Helen Cargo began collecting quilts in the 1950s and by the 1980s they were concentrating on African American made quilts in Alabama. Their collection can be seen online at Robert & Helen Cargo Collection. There is no direct link to the collection. I found it by selecting "search collections" in the left column of the page. On the collections page put in the key word "cargo" under keyword search and that took me to the exhibition of 156 quilts. Each quilt is clickable for more information and an enlarged version. Viewiewing them all is a true delight.
To read an essay by Robert Cargo go to African American Quilts of Alabama: Flowers Without Roots? In this article he mentions the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Quilting Bee as quilt cooperative that began in 1996. At the time some Black Americans were losing their jobs because they had registered to vote. There was a need for new ways to earn a living and the Freedom Quilting Bee helped fill this need. This cooperative is still active today. Read about it's history and present activities at Freedom Quilting Bee. This page also included early pictures of the groundbreaking and other activities.
Learn more about African American quilters at African American Quilts: A Long Rich Heritage.