“In the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. there hangs a quilt unlike any other in the world. In fanciful, inspired, and
yet simple and identifiable figures, it portrays the story of the Crucifixion. It is considered rare, beyond price. Though it follows no known pattern of quilt-making, and thought it is made of bits and pieces of worthless rags, it is obviously the work of a person of powerful imagination and deep spiritual feeling. Below this quilt I saw a note that says it was made by “an anonymous Black woman in Alabama, a hundred years ago.” If we could locate this “anonymous” black woman from Alabama, she would turn out to be one of our grandmothers-an artist who left her mark in the only materials she could afford, and in the only medium her position in society allowed her to use.” The “anonymous Black woman”, referred to in the passage above, represents _____________. a. the quilt she created c. the importance of museums b. Alice Walker’s mother d. anonymous Black artists throughout history.
Based on the excerpt provided in the question, the author wants to lay emphasis on the unknown identities of the various artists and workers who had to withhold their real identities for various reasons. These reasons may be for personal reasons, for their safety and also maybe due to their position in the society they are living in.
By the depiction of the generalized "anonymous black woman", the author is talking of all the unknown and even unacknowledged Black workers and artists throughout history and generations. Their works may have been discovered or not, but whatever the case, their works won't and can't be appreciated and applauded to them personally for they were "anonymous" to the world.
