Name: Give Them Their Flowers
Start: 2023-04-15 12:00:00
Location: BCollective

Despite being a simple statement, it holds a great deal of significance for me. My goal with this collection was to pay tribute to two individuals who have been a source of inspiration and a driving force throughout my career over the past four years. My great grandmother Pauline Winters (crocheter) and Great Uncle Spurgeon Jake Winters (former Chicago Chapter Black Panther member). Over the years, I have continuously wondered why I had such a passion for community...why every other member of my family did not share my passion for art & fashion. Not knowing all along It was because of these two. They both passed on way before I came to be or even was thought of. Pauline was the matriarch of our family. But aside from that, I discovered that she was an avid crocheter. She loved crocheting all types of blankets. You can catch a glimpse of one of them in the NIKE AF1 40th anniversary ad. I often day dream about what she would say if she was around to see the things that I come up. What a dream that would be. To continue, Spurgeon aka “Uncle Jake” was a former Chicago Black Panther Party member. He had such a passion for community. During his free time, he fed the homeless and volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in the community. Sadly, he lost his life on November 13, 1969 at the age of 19. It was only later that I learned from family and Fred Hampton Jr. what a significant impact his presence and death had on the community. To conclude, I would like to express my gratitude to both of them.

Thank you Granny Pauline and Thank you Uncle Jake for being an inspiration and driving force to this legacy that I’m cultivating. I pray that I’m making you all proud every second that I walk this earth. I know that we will never meet in this life time but I know that you all are with me.

With Love, Chelsea B