Wildflower: A Memoir -- Aurora James

<b>This <b>"empowering and inspirational" (<i>People</i>) memoir of struggle and perseverance offers new ways of envisioning economic equality for <i>everyone</i>--from a leading activist and fashion pioneer.</b><br></b><br><b>"With community and sisterhood at its center, <i>Wildflower </i>teaches us that against all odds, we can overcome."--Rupi Kaur, <i>New York </i>Times bestselling author of <i>milk and honey</i></b> <p/><b>A <i>BLOOMBERG </i>AND <i>HARPER'S BAZAAR </i>BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR</b> <p/>Aurora James's life is a great American "success story"--precisely because it looks so different from others we've seen. Scouted as a teen model, James struggled with body image and became disenchanted by the industry's objectification of women and commodification of race. After she'd hit rock bottom, dropping out of high school and being arrested for street racing, she was forced to reshape her life. A slew of fashion-related jobs led James to discover the power of the runway, and she started her own business in a flea market: a sustainable fashion line showcasing traditional African designs that would become an award-winning international brand. <p/>Already a rising star and trailblazer in fashion, she posted a revolutionary idea in the wake of George Floyd's murder that challenged retailers to commit 15 percent of their shelf space to Black businesses. This became the Fifteen Percent Pledge, one of the fastest-growing social justice nonprofits. To date, more than two dozen