This week's interview from the Quilters' Save Our Stories (QSOS) program from the Quilt Alliance features Roy Mitchell, Jr. Roy "is a collector of Black memorabilia. As he studied Black culture, he began to wonder why Black people were always negatively correlated with watermelon. In response, Mitchell created the quilt "Watermelun Babies" to portray a more positive linkage between watermelon and Black people." See Roy's quilt, and get to know a bit more about him, in this insightful installment of the QSOS program.

What are Quilters' Save Our Stories interviews you ask? "Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories (QSOS) is a project of the non-profit Quilt Alliance. The project creates, through recorded interviews, a broadly accessible body of information concerning quiltmaking, both present-day and in living memory. Our archive for the original audio recordings and photographs is the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. QSOS volunteers from across the country conduct and transcribe these interviews. We appreciate their generosity of time and dedication to the project!"

From Quilters' Save Our Stories and the Quilt Alliance:

"Roy Mitchell, Jr. says that he is a collector of Black memorabilia. As he studied Black culture, he began to wonder why Black people were always negatively correlated with watermelon. In response, Mitchell created the quilt "Watermelun Babies" to portray a more positive linkage between watermelon and Black people. Mitchell says that the "Watermelun Babies" quilt has been used in the National Quilters Association show. He says that the "Watermelun Babies" quilt is traveling to multiple shows, whereas the smaller quilt has been used in school systems to teach kids about negative stigmas and how to make them positive.

Mitchell says that a friend of his introduced him to quilting when he needed to find an outlet for stress relief. His method of stitching is couching, a hand piecing practice. Mitchell gives insight into how he ended up joining the King of Quilts. He describes his quilting studio. Mitchell says he travels to Africa every year and stays for a month. During his first-ever visit, he was fascinated by the African tie-dyeing method called "batik" and was inspired to create his own designs. Learning the technique is the biggest challenge to quilt makers, Mitchell claims. Mitchell says he wants to be remembered for not being afraid of a challenge and being a male quilter in a female-dominated area."

Click Here, or the images of Roy's quilt below, to hear his story.

Watermelun Babies by Roy Mitchell, Jr. (Photo from Quilt Alliance)

Watermelun Babies by Roy Mitchell, Jr. - Detail 1 (Photo from Quilt Alliance)

Watermelun Babies by Roy Mitchell, Jr. - Detail 2 (Photo from Quilt Alliance)