Black Heritage Month

These swaths of fabric are what's left of the mandated uniforms worn by enslaved Blacks in the South. Often referred to as "negro cloth," it was a sturdy weave of cotton or a cotton-wool blend, described as coarse, rough, and uncomfortable. The cloth was designed for maximum durability and minimum cost. While often unbleached (off-white or brown), it was also produced in solid colors or simple patterns such as stripes and checks. On some plantations, enslaved individuals were forced to spin and weave their own "uniforms" to further reduce costs for the enslaver. Field hands wore the coarsest negro cloth, but domestic servants were sometimes dressed in finer textiles to reflect the wealth and status of their enslavers. Relying on their agricultural knowledge of cultivating indigo in West Africa, the enslaved eventually made dye from the indigo that turned the "negro cloth" blue, which became the precursor to modern day denim. #blackhistorymonth2026