The Week Black Excellence Took Over France

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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 is a businesswoman who was most recently the chief marketing officer at Netflix. She’s the author of the recently published book, “The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss and Survival.” She came to speak to answer questions from young people at CC: DC.

Bozoma Saint John was one of the celebrity panelists.

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

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

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

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 were front row at Pharrell’s first Louis Vuitton show.

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

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

Here’s some Highlights from the LV show.