Sew Their Names tells the story of a group of quilters from Mt. Willing, Alabama who, in the wake of the activism spurred by the death of George Floyd, began stitching the names of enslaved persons found in the archives of the Alabama Baptist Church at Samford University. This simple act has now turned into a larger exhibition and project to commemorate the erased and forgotten lives of enslaved people across the state of Alabama. The exhibition includes commemorative quilts made by Southern quiltmakers, Wini McQueen and Yvonne Wells hosted by Project Horseshoe Farms; a quilt trail featuring quilts by the Mt. Willing Quilters hosted by community partners Newbern Library, Safe House Black History Museum and Sumac Cottage; and drop-in quilting sessions with the Mt. Willing Quilters where community members can contribute to the project through continuing to help stitch the names of enslaved people whose names are listed in the archives of Samford University or connected to their own families.

The traveling exhibit will provide an opportunity for members of the public to join the quilters in sewing either the names discovered in the Samford archives, or those of other enslaved persons connected with their own families—both the enslaved ancestors of members of the Black descendant community and, for descendants of slaveholders, persons whom their families enslaved.