Day 13 (M) — Mutual Aid Societies Miss Mae’s Patch: Small gold stitches linking multiple fabric pieces. The letter M is formed from four connected panels, like hands meeting at corners. The seams are visible, emphasizing connection over polish.

Day 12 (L) — Lynching Miss Mae’s Patch: Deep rust fabric with faint, frayed stitch marks that stop short of the edges. The letter L is formed from two plain vertical and horizontal seams, unadorned and heavy. No imagery, no symbols—just weight and interruption.

Day 11 (K) — Ku Klux Klan (Resurgence) Miss Mae’s Patch: Off-white fabric stained with faint gray shadows. The letter K is constructed from rigid, angular panels that resemble fence posts.

Day 10 (J) — Jim Crow Miss Mae’s Patch: Washed-out tan fabric with stark black dividing lines. The letter J is shaped like a bent partition wall, its curve forming a barrier rather than a flourish. The stitches are rigid and evenly spaced, echoing enforced order.

Day 9 (I) — Industrial Exclusion Miss Mae’s Patch: Slate gray fabric with narrow copper stitch lines like factory piping. The letter I stands tall but is boxed in by stitched borders on both sides, suggesting access to industry without entry. Stitches are rigid & mechanical, echoing factory order.

Day 8 (H) — Historical Erasure Miss Mae’s Patch: The letter H is formed from muted parchment fabric with faint, rubbed-out stitch marks. Some of the seams and threads look partially picked. Some stitches intentionally fade, suggesting removal rather than absence.

Day 7 (G) — Great Migration (Early Signals) Miss Mae’s Patch:
The letter G rounds like a curved road bending out of frame. Directional stitches run diagonally, suggesting movement guided by information rather than chance. *****

Day 6 (F) — Freedmen’s Memory Miss Mae’s Patch: The letter F is formed from overlapping strips, like folded paper or layered voices. The stitches vary slightly in length, signaling stories passed by hand rather than fixed in print.

Day 5 (E) — Education as Resistance Miss Mae’s Patch: The letter E is formed from standing rectangles resembling books on a shelf. Small, precise stitches throughout suggests repetition, practice, and patience.

Day 4 (D) — Disenfranchisement Miss Mae’s Patch: The letter D is shaped like a ballot folded shut, its opening stitched closed at the seam. The stitches are deliberate and tight, signaling restriction rather than absence.

Day 3 (C) — Convict Leasing Miss Mae’s Patch: Charcoal gray wool fabric represents business. Grungy linen represents prison garments. The letter C is shaped like a broken shackle, not fully closed...

Day 2 (B) — Black Women’s Clubs Miss Mae’s Patch:
The letter B is formed from rectangles, like meeting tables pushed together. Small gold stitches connect the shapes, suggesting coordination, planning, and quiet labor done without applause.

Day 1A — African American Churches Miss Mae’s Patch:
A simple church shape where the letter A rises like a doorway - open, grounded, welcoming.

Miss Mae is in her early eighties, old enough to know that progress doesn’t move in straight lines. She’s seen laws change forward and backward, sometimes in the same lifetime. As headlines announce “progress” while rights quietly shrink, Miss Mae turns to what has always lasted—tradition, memory…

#ABCsofFebruary: Threads Of The Nadir Historians often refer to the period after Reconstruction as the Nadir of Black American history—a time when freedom existed in name but not in practice. This year, we examine and learn from this period, for history is a better guide than we can imagine. ————

#ABC’s of February: Threads of the Nadir Because we can learn a lesson moving two steps forward and one step back. ———— The illustrations were created using brushes by @bardotbrush and @RetroSupplyCo. ———— #theabcsoffebruary #americanhistory #historyinillustration #blackhistoryfacts

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses Z is for Zina Garrison (Tennis Champion and Activist) Through her foundation, Garrison provides opportunities for youth to engage in sports and education, emphasizing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and personal development. #BHM

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses Y is for Yaa Asantewaa Yaa Asantewaa’s courage and determination made her a symbol of resistance and empowerment, inspiring future generations of leaders advocating for freedom and justice across Africa and the African diaspora. #BHM

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses X is for Xernona Clayton (Media Executive) On her show, she interviewed Calvin Craig, a KKK grand dragon. Following the show, his daughter remarked that Clayton had brought change to their home, due to her understanding and dialogue.

TheABCsOFFeburary: The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses W - Willa B. Player (Educator) She was also appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as the first female Director of the Division of College Support in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, serving until 1986. #BHM

: The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses V - Victoria Earle Matthews (Activist and Educator) Matthews, born into enslavement, had a birth mother who escaped & came back to buy both freedom for her and the children- becoming the first Black woman recognized by Georgia's court system to do so.

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses U is for Unita Blackwell (Civil Rights Activist and Politician) Her grassroots organizing efforts played a significant role in empowering her community and advancing civil rights. #BHM

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses T - Tananarive Due (Author and Educator) Due won the American Book Award for her novel The Living Blood (2001), and multiple awards for her novel The Reformatory (2023). She is also a film historian with expertise in Black horror. #BHM

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses S - Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Musician/Influencer) She influenced early rock & roll musicians, including Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and also later guitarists, like Eric Clapton.

#abcsoffebruary : The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses R - Richelle G. B. Johnson (Pioneering Internet Technologist) Given that Johnson addresses a politically charged subject and considering today’s person is relatively private, no photo is available. #BHM

#ABCsofFebruary: The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses Q is for Queen Mother Moore (Civil Rights Activist) Queen Mother Moore was a pivotal yet lesser-known advocate for Pan-Africanism and civil rights, dedicated to championing the rights of Black people on a global scale. #BHM

#ABCsofFebruary :The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses P - Paul L. Dunbar (Poet/Novelist) His work, including the lyric poem "We Wear the Mask," used both standard English and dialect to convey the struggles and joys of Black life, helping pave the way for future generations of writers. #BHM

#ABC’s of February: The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses O is for Owen Brown (Activist and Abolitionist) Owen, son of John Brown, was involved in the abolitionist movement and fought for the cause alongside his father. #BHM

#ABCsofFebruary :The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses N is for Nina Simone (Musician and Activist) An outspoken activist, Nina Simone used her platform to advocate for change and participated in protests, leaving a lasting impact on both the music world and the fight for equality. #BHM

#ABCsofFebruary :The Lead - Leaders Who Uplift The Masses M is for Marva Collins (Educator) Collins emphasized critical thinking, self-esteem, and personal responsibility, transforming lives and advocating for educational reform. #BHM