Quilting the Sermon: Homiletical Insights from Harriet Powers

Sermons come in a variety of forms. For Harriet Powers, an African American artist and former slave who lived from 1837–1910, sermons took the form of quilts. Unlike most quilts crafted during her lifetime, Powers’ quilts told biblical stories, recounted legends, and carried messages of divine judge...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Donyelle McCray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-02-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/2/46
Description
Summary:Sermons come in a variety of forms. For Harriet Powers, an African American artist and former slave who lived from 1837–1910, sermons took the form of quilts. Unlike most quilts crafted during her lifetime, Powers’ quilts told biblical stories, recounted legends, and carried messages of divine judgement and hope. This article offers a brief account of her life, a description of her quilts, and a reflection on her spirituality. Rather than approaching her quilts solely as folk art, this essay places them in the African American preaching tradition.
ISSN:2077-1444