What does Walker describe to symbolize character in this passage?

Alice Walker uses quilts as a metaphor for character in her book, "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose." She writes, "In these quilts, crazy ones especially, I could see my mother and grandmothers and myself and all the other women who had participated in the creation of something larger than themselves. These quilts showed me that I was part of something larger, that I was not alone, and that I was not merely an extension of my mother or grandmothers, but a unique and individual human being."

Walker sees the quilts as a symbol of the strength, resilience, and creativity of women. She says that the quilts are a way for women to express themselves and their stories. They are also a way for women to connect with each other and to feel a sense of community. Walker writes that the quilts are a reminder that women are not alone, but are part of something larger than themselves.