The Week Black Excellence Took Over France

We are not talking about the famous film festival in Cannes. The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity is one of the biggest events in the world where business people, thought leaders and celebs, from all over gather in France to discuss topics in creative communications, entertainment, design, tech, and advertising industries.

Black people came in mass to discuss inclusion and diversity in the industries. Around the same time, Paris Fashion Week was making headlines as Black celebrities from all over the world came in their best fits to take in shows across the city, particularly— Pharrell Williams’ 1st Louis Vuitton Show.

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Cannes Can: Diversity Collective

Adrianne C. Smith created the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC: DC), a non-profit organization that gives young people of color the opportunity to attend the annual festival in a way they previously were not able to.

This year, the CC: DC held the 2023 Inkwell Beach activation, a five-day event that was “created to highlight and showcase the theme of equality, diversity, and inclusion.”

Spike Lee

Academy Award-winning director and filmmaker Spike Lee spoke at multiple events during the Cannes Lions Festival.

Spike Lee

Spike Lee is wearing his New York City gear, but yet so far from the city.

Issa Rae

Issa was among the celebrities who attended the Cannes Lions Festival.

Issa Rae

Here Issa Rae, the actor and producer, answers questions from Adrianne C. Smith

Amanda Gorman

Popular poet and activist Amanda Gorman was present at the Cannes Lions Festival.

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman, who gained notoriety after she read her original poem, “The Hill We Climb,” during President Biden’s Inauguration, also did a panel for the CC: DC.

Bozoma Saint John

Bozoma Saint John is a businesswoman who is currently the chief marketing officer at Netflix. She came to speak to answer questions from young people at CC: DC.

Bozoma Saint John

Bozoman Saint John was one of the celebrity panelists.

Sam Barrington

Former NFL player Sam Barrington was also a part of the event at the Cannes Lions Festival.

Sam Barrington

Former NFL player Sam Barrington serves as the president of Sky Limit Crane & Rigging.

CC: DC Inkwell Beach Activation

Forward Focused: Inkwell Beach- Cannes 2023

Highlights of the five-day CC: DC event held at the Cannes Lions Festival.

Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Fashion Show

Before the Cannes Lions Festival, Black celebrities came in droves to witness Pharrell’s fashion show for his first collection with Louis Vuitton.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé

Jay-Z and Beyoncé were front row at Pharrell’s first Louis Vuitton show.

LeBron and Savannah James

NBA superstar LeBron James and his wife also stepped out for the much-anticipated show.

Willow and Jaden Smith

The Smith siblings, Willow and Jaden, came in their flyest LV fits to watch the menswear show from Pharrell.

Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Fashion Show

Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring-Summer 2024 Fashion Show by Pharrell Williams in Paris | LOUIS VUITTON

Here’s some Highlights from the LV show.

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