A Belated Thank you for Leah Tutu

2016, 27"L x 32"W. Artist dye painted fabric, machine quilt drawing, hand embellishment.

This quilt traveled to South Africa as part of the "Ubuntutu: Life Legacies of Love and Action" quilt show commemorating the work of Desmond and Leah Tutu. I wanted to recognize Leah Tutu for the human rights work she accomplished. Leah was a founding member of SADWU – the South African Domestic Workers Union – in the battle for better working conditions, wages and educational opportunities for South Africa’s domestic workers.  Her work has few photos, fewer articles and little mainstream understanding of its importance in the struggle for international human rights.  In fact, when I first researched women of color human rights activists around the world, NGO ‘experts’ told me there were none – that ‘traditional’ women did not become human rights leaders. 

We go forward with our work on the shoulders of those who came before us.  I know the way I am made invisible is the way my sisters have been always made invisible.  We are all paying with our lives to become visible, to be seen, understood and appreciated within movements for change. 

I want to send this quilt thank you card to Leah Tutu.  My sister, please know someone noticed you kept gardening as the tanks rolled by your house.  Someone noticed that you encouraged other women to keep going, at a great personal sacrifice.  Your terrible struggle keeps many other struggles alive.  Thank you.  Here is a “Belated Thank You for Leah Tutu”.

The yellow roses in the background were dye-painted and quilted. The figure, wearing my rendition of the domestic worker uniform, was quilted and appliqued onto the background.