[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.87,0:00:05.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is often said that the stories\Nof history are written by its victors,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.33,0:00:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if this is true,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.66,0:00:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what becomes of the downtrodden,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.74,0:00:11.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how can they ever hope\Nto aspire for something greater
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.53,0:00:15.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they are never told the stories\Nof their own glorious pasts?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.86,0:00:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ostensibly, I stand before you\Nas a mere maker of clothing,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.68,0:00:22.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but within the folds of ancient fabrics\Nand modern textiles,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.99,0:00:25.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have found a higher calling.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.55,0:00:27.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Through my work as a designer,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.16,0:00:30.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've discovered the importance\Nof providing representation
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.14,0:00:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the marginalized members\Nof our society,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.24,0:00:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the importance of telling\Nthe most vulnerable among us
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.50,0:00:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they no longer have\Nto compromise themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.97,0:00:42.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just so they can fit in\Nwith an uncompromising majority.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.70,0:00:44.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns out that fashion,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.38,0:00:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a discipline many of us\Nconsider to be trivial,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.67,0:00:50.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can actually be a powerful tool\Nfor dismantling bias
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.17,0:00:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bolstering the self-images\Nof underrepresented populations.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.56,0:00:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My interest in using design\Nas a vehicle for social change
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.32,0:01:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happens to be a personal one.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.40,0:01:03.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a Nigerian-American,\NI know how easily the term "African"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.94,0:01:06.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can slip from being\Nan ordinary geographic descriptor
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.91,0:01:09.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to becoming a pejorative.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.89,0:01:12.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For those of us from\Nthis beautiful continent,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.50,0:01:15.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be African is to be inspired by culture
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.46,0:01:18.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to be filled with undying\Nhope for the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.98,0:01:23.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in an attempt to shift\Nthe misguided perceptions that many have
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.45,0:01:25.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the place of my birth,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.21,0:01:27.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I use design as a means to tell stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.67,0:01:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories about joy,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.52,0:01:31.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories about triumph,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.10,0:01:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories about perseverance\Nall throughout the African diaspora.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.78,0:01:36.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tell these stories
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.11,0:01:38.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a concerted effort\Nto correct the historical record,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.99,0:01:42.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, no matter\Nwhere any of us is from,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.38,0:01:44.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,each of us has been touched\Nby the complicated histories
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.74,0:01:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that brought our families\Nto a foreign land.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.58,0:01:50.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These histories shape\Nthe way we view the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.80,0:01:54.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they mold the biases\Nwe carry around with us.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.09,0:01:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To combat these biases,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.80,0:01:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my work draws aesthetics\Nfrom different parts of the globe
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.88,0:02:00.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and crafts a narrative\Nabout the importance
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.75,0:02:02.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of fighting for inclusivity.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.29,0:02:06.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By refashioning images\Nfrom classic European art
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.30,0:02:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and marrying them with African aesthetics,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.46,0:02:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am able to recast people of color\Nin roles of prominence,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.02,0:02:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,providing them with a degree of dignity
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.68,0:02:16.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they didn't have in earlier times.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.64,0:02:21.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This approach subverts the historically\Naccepted narrative of African inferiority,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.48,0:02:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it serves as inspiration\Nfor people of color
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.30,0:02:27.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who have grown wary of seeing\Nthemselves depicted without sophistication
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.56,0:02:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and without grace.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.27,0:02:32.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each of these culture-bending tapestries
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.41,0:02:34.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,becomes a tailored garment
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.37,0:02:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a silk scarf, like the one I am\Nvery coincidentally wearing right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.53,0:02:43.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even when surrounded\Nin a structure of European classicism,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.23,0:02:47.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these narratives boldly extoll\Nthe merits of African empowerment.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.100,0:02:50.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this way, the tools of the masters
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.51,0:02:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,become masterworks
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.90,0:02:55.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to celebrate those\Nwho were once subservient.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.21,0:02:59.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This metaphor extends\Nbeyond the realm of art
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.83,0:03:01.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and out into the real world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.31,0:03:05.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether worn by refugees\Nor world-changing entrepreneurs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.18,0:03:07.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when people are allowed\Nthe freedom to present themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.75,0:03:10.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a manner that celebrates\Ntheir own unique identities,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.75,0:03:12.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a magical thing happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.58,0:03:13.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We stand taller.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.91,0:03:15.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're more proudly self-aware,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.58,0:03:18.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we're presenting\Nour true, authentic selves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.88,0:03:22.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those of us who are around them\Nin turn become more educated,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.32,0:03:26.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more open, and more tolerant\Nof their different points of view.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.80,0:03:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this way, the clothes that we wear
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.33,0:03:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be a great illustration\Nof diplomatic soft power.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.91,0:03:35.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The clothes that we wear\Ncan serve as bridges
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.80,0:03:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between our seemingly disparate cultures.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.42,0:03:45.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, yeah, ostensibly I stand\Nbefore you as a mere maker of clothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.01,0:03:48.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But my work has always\Nbeen about more than fashion.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.26,0:03:51.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has become my purpose\Nto rewrite the cultural narratives
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.01,0:03:54.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that people of color can be seen\Nin a new and nuanced light,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.52,0:03:56.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so that we,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.31,0:03:58.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the proud children of Sub-Saharan Africa,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.29,0:04:00.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can traverse the globe
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.11,0:04:02.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while carrying ourselves with pride.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.100,0:04:05.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was indeed true\Nthat the stories of history
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.40,0:04:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were told by its old victors,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.46,0:04:11.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I am of a new generation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.04,0:04:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My work speaks for those
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.14,0:04:16.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who will no longer let their futures\Nbe dictated by a troubled past.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.67,0:04:19.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, we stand ready\Nto tell our own stories
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.83,0:04:23.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without compromise, without apologies,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.14,0:04:25.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the question still remains:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.61,0:04:30.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are you prepared for what you\Nare about to hear?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.77,0:04:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope you are, because\Nwe are coming regardless.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.90,0:04:41.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)