Backpacks that tell Black stories
SK WiLBUR officially launched its B.Brave backpacks for Black History Month during an in person Pop-Up/Hip Hop Event at Rococo Design Gifts Shop, located at 324 Lewis Ave., in Brooklyn, New York.
The event included shopping, performances, and raffle drawings. The winners of the raffle received $50 Staples gift cards to purchase school supplies.
B.Brave is a collection of backpacks that highlights influential black leaders. The collection consists of messages that empower, educate, and inspire the youth to fight for equality, social justice and to know their history.
“I am so thrilled to officially launch this brand that celebrates the accomplishments of Black American icons during Black History Month, with a pop up at a Black woman-owned store in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant,” said the brand’s founder, Wilbur Pack, Jr.
Each backpack’s style features a collectible hang tag with a QR code that, when scanned, will take the “hero-in-the-making” to the company’s website for immersive, creative, and entertaining video segments of like-minded young people who share information about “historical superheroes” who embody the spirit of the topic featured on the QR code hang tag.
From left Isaiah Smith, Ashanti Acevedo and Monty Person.
Photo by Nykeema Williams Photography
Kids are encouraged to post their own content about their favorite historical superheroes on social media platforms, such as Tik Tok, using the hashtag #BBrave4SocialJustice, for a chance to receive free school supplies and other prizes.
“Our vision is to use our backpacks to foster a sense of community through telling inclusive and ethnically diverse stories of American citizens whose contributions have shaped this country. I vividly remember feeling an immense sense of pride as a 17-year-old college freshman taking my first Black Studies course and learning about important Black writers, activists, and change makers.
“I discovered that my existence as an American did not start with slavery and end with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But the more I learned, the more I felt robbed of my legacy. I had been taught about the American Revolution and all the wars, but there were only White men in those lessons. Sadly, Black people had been erased from my education. It’s important to me that all children truly see themselves and envision great possibilities for their lives,” stated Wilbur Pack, Jr. during an interview.
Pack is not only a social justice warrior, but he is also a well-known talented fashion designer with 26 years of experience in the fashion industry. He has worked with Patti LaBelle, Lonette McKee, Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe and Keke Palmer to name a few.
His work has received a wide recognition and has been in several publications such as WWD, E! Entertainment Television’s, New York Fashion Week, The Los Angeles Times, Essence.com, and NYPost.com. In addition, Pack was profiled for JET magazine and was photographed for the October 2015 issue of Ebony Magazine.
During the event, rap duo Monty Person and Isaiah Smith, a.k.a. The Intellectuals performed their original piece honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s historical contributions and his impact on black culture and history.
Ashanti Acevedo, the Queens wordsmith, recited her original piece about women’s rights activist, community organizer and civil rights leader, Fannie Lou Hamer. Acevedo is a poet and activist who made it her interest to honor the legacy of Hamer in her work. Her poetry explores issues of self-identity, depression, and injustice. Her performance at Bronx Poetry’s 2022 Juneteenth event last year made her the youngest poet to participate. She has also performed at gun violence events at her school and church.
