Quilts created by slave women were aptly used to interpret secret messages to other slaves, especially those who escaped. Some researchers believe that the quilt patterns even contained instructions for navigating the Underground Railroad. According to the article “The Role of Slavic Art in the Resistance” by Joellen ElBashir and Donna M. Wells, “patterns, knots, stitching, and colors conveyed instructions on ways to escape slavery and, when hung outdoors, transmitted instructions to the North." Quilts would even be created to map the surrounding landscape to help runaway slaves become familiar with the land and its terrain. Besides the quilts , houses and other structures built by slave laborers were arranged and designed so that they were familiar to the context of houses in Africa (Rodriguez, Junius P. "Art." Encyclopedia of Resistance and Rebellion of slaves.). This introduction of indigenous culture to America showed how slaves resisted, even after being forced to adopt American ways..