According to Ms. Ringgold, quilts are the classic art form of Black people in America. She explained to The Morning Call of Allentown, Pa., in 2005 that African slaves in America turned to quilting when they were unable to practice their traditional sculpture due to being separated from their religion. They would repurpose fabric scraps to create coverlets for themselves and their masters.
In 1983, Ms. Ringgold started incorporating narrative text into her quilts after facing challenges in finding a publisher for her memoir. At that time, very few artists were experimenting with this form of storytelling.
One of her notable story quilts, “Who’s Afraid of Aunt Jemima?,” reimagined the stereotypical figure of Aunt Jemima as a Black feminist role model, challenging the offensive portrayal of Black women. This was a groundbreaking approach during that period.
In the late 1980s, Ms. Ringgold was approached by Crown Publishers to adapt her quilt “Tar Beach” into a picture book. The book tells the story of 8-year-old Cassie Lightfoot, who experiences a magical night flying over the city in 1939, symbolizing freedom and empowerment.
Ms. Ringgold’s artwork has been collected by prominent individuals like Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey. Her work has also been featured in public spaces, such as the 125th Street subway station in Manhattan, where her mosaic murals titled “Flying Home” honor significant Black figures like Josephine Baker, Malcolm X, and Zora Neale Hurston.
