Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.
#112. Show Way (authored by Jacqueline
Woodson & illustrated by Hudson Talbott, 2005)
Jacqueline
Woodson’s Show Way tells a moving, multigenerational story of African American
women who preserved their family history and passed down wisdom through
quilting and literacy. Beginning with Soonie’s great-grandmother, who was sold
into slavery at just seven, the story traces a journey from enslavement to
freedom, through segregation and civil rights marches. The quilts, stitched
with colorful patches and hidden meanings, become symbols of hope, survival,
and the path to freedom. Brought to life by Hudson Talbott’s luminous
illustrations, this lyrical story celebrates generations of courageous women
whose strength, knowledge, and love continue to illuminate the way for their
daughters and future generations.
“At
night, she sewed stars and moons and roads – tiny patch pieces of stars and
moon and roads. Slaves whispered what no one was allowed to say: That Mathis
know how to make……a Show Way. Came to her when they needed to talk; came to her
for the stories of brave people; came to her for the patch pieces; just before
they disappear into the night.”
ð These
lines offer a powerful glimpse into the courage and ingenuity of enslaved
African Americans seeking freedom. Through Mathis’s quilting, stars, moons, and
roads become symbols of hope, while whispered stories preserve knowledge that
could not be shared openly. They came to her for golden advice and inspiration
on what they literally could do on the road to freedom. Mathis is more than a
quiltmaker; she is a keeper of stories, a guardian of collective memory, and a
source of strength for those preparing to escape. Her quilts represent the
possibility of freedom and the power of knowledge passed from one generation to
the next.
“Mathis
May stayed on, grew tall and straight-boned, jumped broom with another slave.
That slave was killed running off to the north side of the war months before he
got to meet his baby, a girl-child who was born free that same year, 1863. History
went and lost her name.”
ð These
poignant lines reveal the painful realities of slavery, the courage to seek
freedom, and the heartbreaking gaps in historical memory. Mathis May survives
into adulthood, builds a family through love and commitment, and carries on the
quilting tradition despite the oppression surrounding her.
Her husband’s tragic death while attempting to escape to the North reflects the enormous risks enslaved people took in pursuit of liberty. Their daughter, born in 1863, represents a turning point in the family’s history—a new generation with the promise of freedom, though her father never lived to see her. The line “History went and lost her name” is especially moving. It reminds us that countless lives, particularly those of enslaved African Americans, were overlooked or erased from official records.
“Sewed
those quilts to live. Sewed those quilts to remember. And though some could
book read, most could not. Stars and moon and roads. Picture reading was what
they’d always known.”
ð Although
many enslaved people were denied access to education and literacy, they
continued to learn through observation, oral storytelling, and visual symbols. The
imagery of stars, moons, and roads in the story celebrates their
resourcefulness and the power of knowledge passed down through generations. This
part of the story honors strong resilience, creativity, and determination of
people who held onto hope even when the written word was beyond their reach.
** Jean’s Small Thoughts:
This
is one of the treasured books from my son’s childhood bookshelf. Once he
learned to read and write in both his mother tongue, Korean, and his second
language, English, searching for good books became our happiest after-school
routine. We would find a quiet, cozy nook in our local public library and curl
up together with a stack of books of our choice, ready to explore new worlds.
Whenever we fell in love with a particular book, we would visit a bookstore to
bring it home as our own.
“Show
Way” was one of those special treasures. With its luminous illustrations and
deeply moving story, it captivated both my son and me so completely that we
could hardly take our eyes off its pages. Even now, it remains a beautiful
reminder of the precious moments we shared through the magic of reading.
Although
the tradition of quilts serving as coded maps on the Underground Railroad
remains historically debated, the author Woodson’s story beautifully captures
the importance of oral tradition, creativity, and community in the struggle for
freedom. We are reminded of the fact that even in the darkest times, courage
and knowledge can light the way toward a better future.
Through
family stories, quilting, and the passing down of knowledge, Woodson restores a
sense of identity to the history has forgotten, honoring their resilience and
preserving their legacy for generations to come. Quilting becomes a powerful
symbol of survival, remembrance, and hope. For generations of enslaved African
Americans, quilts provided warmth while preserving family memories and cultural
heritage in a world that often denied them their identity and freedom.
My
husband and I made a small donation in the mid-2000s to support the
construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. To me, it stands as a
powerful tribute not only to the prominent leaders of the African American
civil rights movement but also to the countless unsung heroes who sacrificed
their lives in the pursuit of freedom and equality throughout American history.
Just
as we remember the courageous Korean independence fighters who resisted
Japanese colonial rule, we must continue to honor the countless ordinary people
whose extraordinary courage and selfless sacrifices helped shape our history.
Their names may not all appear in history books, but their stories deserve to
be told and remembered by generations to come.
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