Repairing the Quilt of Humanity

A Metaphor for Healing and Reparation.

– by Deborah Howard

In her book, The Quilt of Humanity: A Metaphor for Healing and Reparation, Deborah uses the metaphor of a quilt and, drawing on her own cultural background, employs the Jewish concept of tikkun olam—healing and repairing the world—to present a provocatively insightful way to look at the impact of racism, and other forms of injustice, on individuals, groups and society.  Just as individuals and groups are injured and torn as a result of injustice, so too, is all of humanity. Deborah weaves her own story of injustice into the larger pattern to illustrate how all of us are part of the quilt of humanity and how reparation and healing is required for bringing about equity and justice.

“The individual cloth metaphor is a way to explore individuals. The quilt metaphor enables exploration of the larger community of people and conveys our interdependence – as individuals, groups, societies, even nations. In a repaired universe, each individual is a complete, whole, beautiful and unique piece of woven cloth that is connected to other clothes, making up the quilt of humanity: the ideal community of people … Completing the reparation of the universe requires reparation of each individual cloth, as well as work to reconnect them in the places that have been ripped apart by social stratification and oppression.”

If you are interested in buying the book in bulk for your classroom, book club, or support group, or in having Deborah do a talk, book-signing, or workshop, please click here.