CHESTERTOWN — Sumner Hall’s contributions to the 2026 Tea Party Festival included “Revolutionary Runway,” honoring 250 years of iconic Black women in a fashion show on Saturday, May 23 at the Garfield Center for the Arts.
The fashion show highlighted women featured in the Threadz of Truth Quilt.
The quilt and accompanying program, funded by a MD 250 Inclusive History Grant, is an “inspiring celebration honoring historic Black women whose courage, leadership, creativity and resilience helped shape 250 years of American history,” a news release states.
Each quilt block reflects the beauty, strength and impact of women whose voices and actions continue to inspire generations.
At the May 23 “Revolutionary Runway” fashion show, featured icons included Sojourner Truth, modeled by Marilyn Watkins; Harriet Tubman, modeled by Carolyn Brooks; Ida B. Wells, modeled by Carol Wilson; Madame C.J. Walker, modeled by Linda Hopkins; Coretta Scott King, modeled by Monica Graves-Bentley; Rosa Parks, modeled by Hope Jackson; Shirley Chisholm, modeled by Noelle Demby; Ketanji Brown Jackson, modeled by Jayla Lewis; Kamala Harris, modeled by Ayanah Pinkett; Maya Angelou, modeled by Ariyanna Green; Oprah Winfrey, modeled by Vanessa Ringgold; and Michelle Obama, modeled by Kim Briscoe Moody.
Introductions and narrations were by Antoinette Ringgold.
The Threadz of Truth Quilt will be on display at Sumner Hall, located at 206 S. Queen St. in downtown Chestertown, throughout the summer during museum hours on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For special viewing appointments or additional information, email info@sumnerhall.org.
Threadz of Truth Quilt was made possible by the expert guidance of Betty Tucker Dietz of Dream Castle Quilt Studio on Cannon Street, Chestertown.
The Sumner Hall Dream Quilters are Angela Anderson, Leslie Bratcher, Marjorie Christy, Sierra Ocasio, Connie Ryans, Marchelle Ryans, Virginia Roberts and Carol Wilson.
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Sumner Hall is a nonprofit historic site and museum preserving the legacy of African American Civil War veterans and celebrating the contributions of African Americans in Kent County and beyond.
As a vibrant cultural center, Sumner Hall hosts educational programs, community events, exhibitions and partnerships that honor history while supporting contemporary community needs.
Union veterans formed the Grand Army of the Republic as a national social and fraternal organization on April 6, 1866, about a year after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate troops to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.
Charles Sumner Post #25 in Chestertown — named for the U.S. senator from Massachusetts who was a fierce advocate of emancipation and voting rights for African Americans — was one of 56 Maryland GAR posts, of which 22 were African American.
Post #25 was established in 1882 by about 20 or so Civil War veterans who had served in the U.S. Colored Troops.
Today, Post #25 is one of only two historically African American GAR posts still standing in the United States, and the only one still open to the public.
For more information, visit www.sumnerhall.org.
