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We Freed The Flower
By: Corey Devon Arthur © 5\2024

My mind snapped when I was 16 years old. In 1994 I was locked up in solitary confinement on Rikers Island C-74 adolescent for drug possession. That's where I met Ann Frank. Reading her dairy helped me to salvage some of my humanity that the box didn't strip away. Before Ann and I parted ways. "She told me to save the flower." Unfortunately, after my release from the carceral state in 1996, I forgot all about the flower. That's when things got mixy and messy.

In 1997 at age 19, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I participated in a robbery with two other men, that resulted in the death of my former 9th grade English teacher. I am sincerely sorry and ashamed for my role in this crime. After being sentenced to 25 years to life for robbery and murder I rekindled my search for the flower.

It wasn't until 2020 that I finally found my flower. It was during the Covid-19 crisis that the flower I had been searching for blossomed inside of me, and out into the world. I evolved from a prison yard gladiator into a leader of my prison community, and led them through the pandemic. I also discovered that my fellow prisoners possessed flowers that could be just as potent as mine with healing through feminism.

This inspired me to create an art exhibition that would honor the folks who helped me to heal. While, at the same time, bridge the divide between free society and the carceral state. I titled it, "She told me to save the flower." It launched in 2023 for the first time. It was such a success that it showcased for a second time in March of 2024.

During the same time in March of 2024, the New York State Board of Parole tried to finish the flower. They wrongfully denied me Parole for the third time. Once again my mind snapped like when I was 16 years old in solitary confinement. Only this time, certain things were broken that aren't ever going to be fixed. Thankfully, the best parts of me remained, and my flower fired back. Right then and there, I swore I would sow the same seeds of humanity and salvation that Ann Frank planted in me over 30 years ago.

I made an oath after my last parole hearing in March 2024, that I would find a way to free the flowers. And so the Flower Registry was born. This project empowered me to fight back against the foulness of the carceral state using the superpowers I gained from feminism. I was also strong enough to lift one of my young brothers up with me. You can check out how he's sowing the seeds in Harlem at A1_hicks Instagram.

Like people each flower is unique and has a job to do; service humanity. I created these flowers to go out into the free world and work. These are not just paper flowers. They are the People's flowers. They were made to aid us in mutual care and community acts of kindness towards each other. Their superpowers derive from how we the people use them to care and love one another. Please show your support by sponsoring a flower and showing the world that absolutely nothing can stop true acts of atonement, redemption, and love. Happy Mother's day and thank you.
 

Save The Flower
Corey Devon Arthur
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BACK STORY FOR FLOWERS
I created these flowers from within the carceral state in May 2024. Like me, they were given a number to be identified by. We found a way to liberate them. Now they reside at the registry waiting for someone to give them a name and purpose. When you sponsor a flower you get to name it and it's superpower. From that point on they become a part of our community and how we care for each other.

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For more information about Corey's work with Empowerment Avenue click here.

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UPDATE

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A WORD ABOUT SPONSORSHIP
By Corey Devon Arthur © 5/2024

You don't need their dollars to get down with us. I'm really from the bottom. I really get it from the mud.

We don't deal with dollars down here. I'm likely to pull up at your spot with ten boxes of Newport looking to make a deal. We break bread made from the mud at the bottom. You're my brothers and sisters. All I ask is that you bring something to the table, and feast with the family.

I don't feed on my own kind. If it don't bleed I don't give a fuck about it. I created the flowers to make people feel good. Evidence of this social engagement is the bag in itself. I put it on for the peoples; not to profit. Sponsor a flower by stepping up to help us move the message. To find out how you can sponsor a flower just by showing up contact me at JPay or Sarah.

Let me know what you think
One
Corey