I am of African American and Taino descent.

I am the granddaughter of a Hidden Figure & civil rights activist on my father’s side, and a Pachuca on my mother’s side.

I am a veteran, sociologist, and writer. Fire is in my blood.

This is my

resistance.

Nasty Baby was conceived in 2016 and stayed in incubation until George Floyd was murdered. That summer, with the crush of covid in full swing and the earth, quite literally smoking from fire, George named the literal and figurative energy of the times: “I can’t breathe.” It felt like every cell I inherited from each ancestor was waking, remembering, warring and grieving in my body at the same time. I was too exhausted to protest, yet ashamed for being silent when my relatives had fought so hard. But I was reminded of this: not everyone’s voice comes through their mouth. Our voices flow through the gifts with which we were born. My voice flows through my hands, with a passion for sewing to empower children. In winter of 2022 I knew it was time to birth Nasty Baby, so I threaded my sewing machine and got to work. I hope you find quilts that make your families feel seen, held and represented. I pray the messages land powerfully for your babies and encourage them on their life journeys.

Angela