Black Child Clothing launches 300 Signature Collection to shine a light on history

"If this was their first time signing a document, what do you think their signatures looked like?"

Black Child Clothing

Black Child Clothing, based in Chicago, has announced the launch of a new clothing line called the 300 Signature Collection. The t-shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, and hats feature replicas of real signatures from slaves that had petitioned the courts for freedom in the 1800s.

Many of the petitioners had never signed their name before this, and Black Child Clothing asks the question on its website, "If this was their first time signing a document, what do you think their signatures looked like?"

Black Child Clothing

A short history lesson

In the Missouri Territory in 1807, a statute was enabled that allowed anyone wrongly held in slavery to sue for their freedom. This statue brought in an age of "freedom suits" before the Missouri courts.

From 1814 to 1860, over 300 people petitioned the Missouri court under the "once free, always free" doctrine, and over half won their cases.

Anti-literacy laws

So, where do the 300 signatures come in? At the time, it was illegal for a slave to be found capable of reading and writing. Many southern states had strict anti-literacy laws that resulted in large fines for anyone caught teaching slaves how to read or write.

As a result, many of the petitioners signing their names for their trials had never put a single word down on paper, not even to sign their own name.

Owner and Founder of Black Child Clothing, a clothing company based in Chicago, Matthew Delashment, had the idea to create a clothing line showcasing these very signatures.

Black Child Clothing

Black Child Clothing brand on display at Blicks Art SupplyBlack Child Clothing

Inspired by a poem

When Delashment named his clothing company, he was inspired by the poem "Hey Black Child," written by Useni Eugene Perkins.

Perkins, a Chicagoan, and leader in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s wrote "Hey Black Child" over 40 years ago. Since then, the empowering message has been recited in schools, in homes, and online for years.

The following is an excerpt from the poem:

Hey black child,

Do you know who you are?

Who really are?

Do you know you can be

What you want to be

If you try to be

What you can be?

Black Child Clothing gives back

Black Child Clothing

Black Child Clothing brand on display at Blicks Art SupplyBlack Child Clothing

The clothing company plays an active role in making a positive impact on its community. Its an official sponsor for the Fundamentals Basketball Camp, Team NuSwoop Baseball, and the B2K Concert Creation Footwork team.

According to a news release, "by staying involved and giving back to their community, Black Child Clothing hopes to make a difference in the lives and future generations of African American kids and teens and their families."

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