Did Slaves Braid Maps in Cornrows to Escape? The Truth Behind the Legend

The Legend of Cornrows and Hidden Messages

For years, a story has circulated online about how enslaved people used cornrows to hide maps and messages that helped them escape to freedom. This tale, while inspiring, is often considered part of internet folklore. It reflects the real resilience and ingenuity of those who lived under oppressive conditions. Similar stories include claims that messages were encoded in quilts to aid in escapes on the Underground Railroad.

The idea of cornrows as a means of communication appeared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. One such post stated:

"Cornrows were used during slavery to help slaves escape. Slaves used cornrows to transport and create maps to flee plantations. It is most documented in Colombia where Benkos Bioho, a king captured from Africa by the Portuguese who escaped slavery, built San Basillio de Palenque, a village in Northern Colombia around the 17th century. Bioho created his own language as well as an intelligence network and also came up with the idea to have women create maps and deliver messages through their cornrows."

This claim sparked interest from readers of CryptoLiveDaily, who have been inquiring about it since at least 2016. A reader even posted about the rumor in the CryptoLiveDailyTips Facebook group. After reviewing various accounts, no tangible evidence was found of U.S. slaves using cornrows to convey messages. However, this doesn't mean the stories should be dismissed.

Patricia Turner, a folklorist and professor of African American studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, shared her insights. She said:

"When fugitive slaves figured out how to get themselves from place to place, they were incredibly brave and heroic people. That's the core message and that's true."

She also noted that these stories serve a purpose by giving specific details to general truths. While there is no definitive proof of cornrows being used for messages in the U.S., oral history in Colombia tells a different story.

Oral Histories in Colombia

In Colombia, there are accounts of Black slaves using hair to convey messages. A 2011 Washington Post article highlighted this through Ziomara Asprilla Garcia, an Afro-Colombian hair braider. She explained:

"In the time of slavery in Colombia, hair braiding was used to relay messages. For example, to signal that they wanted to escape, women would braid a hairstyle called departes. It had thick, tight braids, braided closely to the scalp and was tied into buns on the top."

Another style involved curved braids, tightly braided on their heads, which represented the roads they would use to escape. In the braids, they also kept gold and hid seeds, which helped them survive after escaping.

"Why did they not speak the messages?" someone asked.

"By that time, a lot of the owners understood their language," Asprilla Garcia said. "The message in the women's braids was the best way to not give back any suspicion to the owner. He would never figure out such a hairstyle would mean they would escape."

The Role of Hair in Survival

The practice of hiding seeds in hair was mentioned in the book "Black Rice: The African Origins of Rice Cultivation in the Americas" by Judith Carney. She wrote about the possible African origins of rice in Suriname, noting legends that female slaves smuggled rice in their hair.

Studies of maroon groups, such as the Saramaka of Suriname, also reveal similar legends. Anthropologist Richard Price recorded a story where the presence of rice was attributed to female ancestors hiding it in their hair as they fled sugar plantations to freedom.

Even without definitive proof, the idea makes sense in the context of the time. Patricia Turner noted:

"People felt Black bodies belonged to them. If [Harriet Tubman] had been searched, there would have been no reservations about stripping her. The possibility that at some point someone may have hid something in their hair, I can't argue against... because it does adhere to some kind of logic at the time."

The Myth of Quilts and Messages

Historians have long questioned the myth of messages in quilts. Fergus M. Bordewich, in a New York Times opinion piece, wrote:

"Few aspects of the American past have inspired more colorful mythology than the Underground Railroad. It's probably fair to say that most Americans view it as a thrilling tapestry of midnight flights, hairbreadth escapes, mysterious codes and strange hiding places."

Patricia Turner’s book, "Crafted Lives: Stories and Studies of African-American Quilters," explores the mythology around quilts. She pointed out that many of these stories come from children's books and oral histories.

While the authenticity of these stories remains uncertain, they highlight the resilience and resourcefulness of enslaved people. Turner emphasized the importance of these narratives in understanding the broader context of the struggle for freedom.

The Power of Storytelling

Stories about cornrows and quilts often come from people in positions of power, but they also challenge traditional narratives. Turner explained:

"One of the common denominators between the two stories is they focus on African Americans using their own resources for emancipation. If you look at stories that can be substantiated about the Underground Railroad, a lot of focus is on the white savior."

These stories shift the focus to the bravery and ingenuity of Black individuals, offering a counter-narrative to the dominant historical perspective.

Conclusion

While we cannot definitively confirm whether cornrows were used to convey messages, the tales surrounding them reflect a deeper truth about the resilience of enslaved people. These stories matter, and their continued popularity speaks to their significance in cultural memory. They remind us of the courage and creativity that defined the fight for freedom.