[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.87,0:00:05.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is often said that the stories\Nof history are written by its victors,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.14,0:00:06.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if this is true,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.48,0:00:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what becomes of the downtrodden,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.55,0:00:11.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how can they ever hope\Nto aspire for something greater
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.35,0:00:14.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they are never told the stories\Nof their own glorious pasts?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.70,0:00:19.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ostensibly, I stand before you\Nas a mere maker of clothing,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.65,0:00:22.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but within the folds of ancient fabrics\Nand modern textiles,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.82,0:00:24.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have found a higher calling.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.41,0:00:26.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Through my work as a designer,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.94,0:00:30.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've discovered the importance\Nof providing representation
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.07,0:00:33.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the marginalized members\Nof our society,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.04,0:00:36.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the importance of telling\Nthe most vulnerable among us
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.35,0:00:38.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they no longer have\Nto compromise themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.79,0:00:41.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just so they can fit in\Nwith an uncompromising majority.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.50,0:00:44.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns out that fashion,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.12,0:00:46.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a discipline many of us\Nconsider to be trivial,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.62,0:00:50.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can actually be a powerful tool\Nfor dismantling bias
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.05,0:00:53.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bolstering the self-images\Nof underrepresented populations.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.83,0:00:58.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My interest in using design\Nas a vehicle for social change
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.12,0:00:59.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happens to be a personal one.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.16,0:01:03.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a Nigerian American,\NI know how easily the term "African"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.36,0:01:06.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can slip from being\Nan ordinary geographic descriptor
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.64,0:01:08.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to becoming a pejorative.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.69,0:01:12.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For those of us\Nfrom this beautiful continent,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.21,0:01:15.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be African is to be inspired by culture
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.22,0:01:17.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to be filled with undying\Nhope for the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.65,0:01:23.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in an attempt to shift\Nthe misguided perceptions that many have
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.25,0:01:24.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the place of my birth,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.95,0:01:27.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I use design as a means to tell stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.87,0:01:29.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories about joy,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.43,0:01:30.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories about triumph,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.90,0:01:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories about perseverance\Nall throughout the African diaspora.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.58,0:01:35.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tell these stories
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.91,0:01:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a concerted effort\Nto correct the historical record,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.28,0:01:42.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, no matter\Nwhere any of us is from,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.25,0:01:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,each of us has been touched\Nby the complicated histories
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.90,0:01:47.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that brought our families\Nto a foreign land.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.73,0:01:50.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These histories shape\Nthe way we view the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.64,0:01:53.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they mold the biases\Nwe carry around with us.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.03,0:01:55.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To combat these biases,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.82,0:01:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my work draws aesthetics\Nfrom different parts of the globe
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.56,0:02:00.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and crafts a narrative\Nabout the importance
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.59,0:02:02.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of fighting for inclusivity.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.22,0:02:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By refashioning images\Nfrom classic European art
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.10,0:02:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and marrying them with African aesthetics,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.26,0:02:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am able to recast people of color\Nin roles of prominence,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.82,0:02:13.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,providing them with a degree of dignity
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.76,0:02:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they didn't have in earlier times.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.02,0:02:21.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This approach subverts the historically\Naccepted narrative of African inferiority,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.52,0:02:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it serves as inspiration\Nfor people of color
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.06,0:02:27.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who have grown wary of seeing\Nthemselves depicted without sophistication
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.50,0:02:28.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and without grace.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.07,0:02:32.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each of these culture-bending tapestries
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.26,0:02:34.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,becomes a tailored garment
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.26,0:02:38.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a silk scarf, like the one I am\Nvery coincidentally wearing right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.22,0:02:39.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.69,0:02:43.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even when surrounded\Nin a structure of European classicism,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.03,0:02:46.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these narratives boldly extoll\Nthe merits of African empowerment.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.80,0:02:52.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this way, the tools of the masters\Nbecome masterworks
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.65,0:02:55.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to celebrate those\Nwho were once subservient.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.01,0:02:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This metaphor extends\Nbeyond the realm of art
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.26,0:03:01.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and out into the real world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.17,0:03:04.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether worn by refugees\Nor world-changing entrepreneurs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.98,0:03:07.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when people are allowed\Nthe freedom to present themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.67,0:03:10.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a manner that celebrates\Ntheir own unique identities,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.51,0:03:12.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a magical thing happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.31,0:03:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We stand taller.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.71,0:03:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're more proudly self-aware
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.30,0:03:18.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we're presenting\Nour true, authentic selves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.62,0:03:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those of us who are around them\Nin turn become more educated,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.29,0:03:25.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more open, and more tolerant\Nof their different points of view.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.81,0:03:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this way, the clothes that we wear
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.24,0:03:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be a great illustration\Nof diplomatic soft power.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.71,0:03:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The clothes that we wear\Ncan serve as bridges
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.88,0:03:38.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between our seemingly disparate cultures.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.46,0:03:43.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, yeah, ostensibly I stand\Nbefore you as a mere maker of clothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.79,0:03:47.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But my work has always\Nbeen about more than fashion.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.02,0:03:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has become my purpose\Nto rewrite the cultural narratives
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.81,0:03:54.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that people of color can be seen\Nin a new and nuanced light,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.83,0:03:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so that we,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.07,0:03:58.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the proud children of sub-Saharan Africa,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.12,0:03:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can traverse the globe
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.84,0:04:01.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while carrying ourselves with pride.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.77,0:04:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was indeed true\Nthat the stories of history
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.18,0:04:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were told by its old victors,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.55,0:04:10.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I am of a new generation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.47,0:04:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My work speaks for those
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.94,0:04:16.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who will no longer let their futures\Nbe dictated by a troubled past.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.47,0:04:20.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, we stand ready\Nto tell our own stories
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.05,0:04:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without compromise, without apologies.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.40,0:04:25.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the question still remains:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.96,0:04:28.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are you prepared\Nfor what you are about to hear?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.98,0:04:34.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope you are, because\Nwe are coming regardless.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.62,0:04:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)