SHE IS A FASHION DESIGNER, AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND SOMEONE WITH A
KNACK FOR TURNING LONG ODDS INTO
A PLAYABLE HAND.
>> I STARTED WITH THE GOAL OF
WORKING WITH CRAFTSMEN AND WOMEN
ALL ACROSS AFRICA --
>> Andrew: ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO A
ONE-OFF TRIP TO AFRICA TURNED
INTO AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE
IN THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTIST ANS
WHERE SHE SAW INGENUITY S
IN THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTIST ANS WHERE SHE SAW INGENUITY SHE ALSO
SAW A CRAFT BEING IGNORED SO SHE
GOT TO WORK.
>> IT'S CALLED VELLIES AND I
DESIGN SHOES
DESIGN SHOES >> Andrew: SHE'S THE CREATOR OF
A LUXURY ACCESSORIES BRAND, B
>> Andrew: SHE'S THE CREATOR OF A LUXURY ACCESSORIES BRAND, BUT
ONE THAT CONTIN
A LUXURY ACCESSORIES BRAND, BUT ONE THAT CONTINUES TO SEE
AFRICAN ARTISAN
ONE THAT CONTINUES TO SEE AFRICAN ARTISANS AS PARTNE
ONE THAT CONTINUES TO SEE AFRICAN ARTISANS AS PARTNERS,
NOT COMMO
AFRICAN ARTISANS AS PARTNERS, NOT COMMODITIES.
NOT COMMODITIES. AND HER OUTLOOK HAS GARNERED A
LARGE FOLLO
AND HER OUTLOOK HAS GARNERED A LARGE FOLLOWING.
LARGE FOLLOWING. SOME INTERESTED IN HER, SOME IN
THE BRAND, BUT MANY IN HER
POLITICS.
POLITICS.
POLITICS. SHE'S LENT FIREP
POLITICS. SHE'S LENT FIREPOWER T
POLITICS. SHE'S LENT FIREPOWER TO THE
BIDEN-HARRIS TICKET AND
ORGANIZED WITH MICHELLE OBAMA T
BIDEN-HARRIS TICKET AND ORGANIZED WITH MICHELLE OBAMA TO
GET THE VOTE OUT, AND HAS SHONE
A SPOTLIGHT ON WHAT SHE SEES AS
FOUR YEARS OF LOST G
A SPOTLIGHT ON WHAT SHE SEES AS FOUR YEARS OF LOST GROUND.
AURORA JAMES AND I CO
FOUR YEARS OF LOST GROUND. AURORA JAMES AND I CONNECTED
RECENTLY TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL.
OKAY, SO, AURORA, IT'S ANDREW
CALLING.
CALLING.
CALLING. VERY NICE TO BE ABLE TO TO
CALLING. VERY NICE TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH
BASE WITH YOU.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, IT'S A
PLEASURE.
PLEASURE.
PLEASURE. >> Andrew: I'M CALLING FROM
TORONTO.
TORONTO.
TORONTO. I WONDER IF THAT MAK
TORONTO. I WONDER IF THAT MAKES YOU A
LITTLE BIT HOMESI
I WONDER IF THAT MAKES YOU A LITTLE BIT HOMESICK?
>> MY GOSH, EVERY TIME THAT I
HEAR FROM CANADA IT M
>> MY GOSH, EVERY TIME THAT I HEAR FROM CANADA IT MAKES M
>> MY GOSH, EVERY TIME THAT I HEAR FROM CANADA IT MAKES ME
INCREDIBLY H
HEAR FROM CANADA IT MAKES ME INCREDIBLY HOM
HEAR FROM CANADA IT MAKES ME INCREDIBLY HOMESICK.
INCREDIBLY HOMESICK. BUT IT'S NOT HORRIBLE BEING IN
AMERICA THIS MONTH IN
PARTICULAR.
PARTICULAR. >> Andrew: LET'S TALK ABOUT
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN AND VICE
PRESIDENT-ELECT CAMARA
PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT KAMALA HARRIS,
HOW DOES THAT SOUND TO YOU?
>> I MOVED TO AMERICA RIGH
HOW DOES THAT SOUND TO YOU? >> I MOVED TO AMERICA RIGHT
BEFORE BARACK WAS SWORN IN AND
THAT WAS SUCH A SURP
BEFORE BARACK WAS SWORN IN AND THAT WAS SUCH A SURPRISE FOR ME,
JUST BEING A CANADIAN, I
UNDERSTOOD THE INTUITIVE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIANS
AND AMERICANS AND I JUST THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A REALLY
LONG ROAD BEFORE WE E
THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A REALLY LONG ROAD BEFORE WE EVER SAW,
YOU KNOW, A JAMAICAN-TAMIL WOMAN
IN OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
OF AMERICA. BUT, GOSH, I COULD
OF AMERICA. BUT, GOSH, I COULDN'T BE MORE
EXCITED, YOU KNOW?
>> Andrew: BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE,
IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT S
>> Andrew: BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT SUMMER.
AND THE DAYS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD
WAS KILLED BY POLICE, JAMES WAS
STRUCK BY HOW POWERFULLY
AMERICANS REACTED BUT HOW
ULTIMATELY IT FELT A LITTLE BIT
EMPTY.
EMPTY.
EMPTY. >>
EMPTY. >> SEEING AWE OF
EMPTY. >> SEE ALL
EMPTY. >> SEEING MESSA
EMPTY. >> SEEING MESSAGES THAT I STAND
AND SUPPORT YOU AS A BLACK WOMAN
AND I WAS READING IT BUT
DEFINITELY NOT BELIEVING IT.
AND I THINK THAT THE BUSINESS
SIDE OF ME NEEDED TO TA
AND I THINK THAT THE BUSINESS SIDE OF ME NEEDED TO TALK TO TH
AND I THINK THAT THE BUSINESS SIDE OF ME NEEDED TO TALK TO THE
MORE WOUNDED SIDE OF MY HUMAN,
AND TO SAY, LIKE, WHAT SORT OF
MAJOR COMMITMENT WOULD I NEED
FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR RIGHT
NOW, FROM M
FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR RIGHT NOW, FROM MAJOR RETAILERS, TO
MAKE ME FEEL THAT THEY WERE
STANDING WITH ME AS A BLACK
WOMAN IN AMERICA.
>> Andrew: SO THE "15 PER CENT
PLEDGE," THE IDEA OF 15% OF
SHELF SPACE OF A MAJO
PLEDGE," THE IDEA OF 15% OF SHELF SPACE OF A MAJOR RET
PLEDGE," THE IDEA OF 15% OF SHELF SPACE OF A MAJOR RETAILER
DEVOTED TO BLACK-OWNED
BUSINESSES, WHAT DOES THAT
ACCOMPLISH?
ACCOMPLISH? SO MUCH.
SO MUCH.
SO MUCH. SO MUCH.
SO MUCH.
SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE RETAILERS
ACTUALLY CARRY BELOW 2% RIGHT
NOW, OKAY
ACTUALLY CARRY BELOW 2% RIGHT NOW, OKAY?
NOW, OKAY? SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR
LEAP HERE
LEAP HERE
LEAP HERE AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
SUPPORTING BLACK-O
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING BLACK-OWNED
SUPPORTING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY
LIKE THAT, WE TALK ABOUT
SUPPORTING BLACK COMMUNITIES.
BLACK FOUNDERS ARE MORE LIKELY
TO EMPLOY BLACK PEOPLE.
WE'RE SEEING WITH THE PANDEMIC
THAT PEOPLE OF COLO
WE'RE SEEING WITH THE PANDEMIC THAT PEOPLE OF COLOUR H
WE'RE SEEING WITH THE PANDEMIC THAT PEOPLE OF COLOUR HAVE BEEN
HIT THE HARDEST AND REALLY
DRASTICALLY.
DRASTICALLY. THERE ARE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES
BEING AFFECTED AND ALSO
DECIMATED
DECIMATED
DECIMATED AND THE BEST THING THAT WE COULD
DO AT THIS POINT IS TO ACTUALLY
FIND THOSE ENTREPRENEURS AND T
DO AT THIS POINT IS TO ACTUALLY FIND THOSE ENTREPRENEURS AND TO
SUPPORT THEM IN REALLY
MEANINGFUL WAYS BECAUSE IT MEANS
UPLIFTING ENTIRE COMMUNITIES
WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS TO RELY ON
OUR GOVERNMENT TO COME IN AND TO
SAVE US THAT THE MOMENT AND WE
NEED TO HOLD THESE CORPORATIONS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING THEIR
PART.
PART.
PART. >>
PART. >> Andrew: TO DATE, MORE THAN
100,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED
SUPPORT TO THE "15 PER CENT
PLEDGE" AND A FEW RETAI
SUPPORT TO THE "15 PER CENT PLEDGE" AND A FEW RETAILERS TOO
-- SEP
PLEDGE" AND A FEW RETAILERS TOO -- SEPHORA AN
PLEDGE" AND A FEW RETAILERS TOO -- SEPHORA AND WEST ELM AN
PLEDGE" AND A FEW RETAILERS TOO -- SEPHORA AND WEST ELM AND RENT
THE RUNWAY AND INDIGO HERE IN
CANADA.
CANADA.
CANADA. SO WHAT IS A COMPANY AC
CANADA. SO WHAT IS A COMPANY ACTUALLY
COMMITTING TO AND HOW ARE THEY
HELD A
COMMITTING TO AND HOW ARE THEY HELD ACCOUNT
COMMITTING TO AND HOW ARE THEY HELD ACCOUNTABLE?
HELD ACCOUNTABLE? BECAUSE THAT'S THE TOUGH PART
HELD ACCOUNTABLE? BECAUSE THAT'S THE TOUGH PART,
RIGHT?
RIGHT?
RIGHT? >>
RIGHT? >> THAT'S SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.
SO THE ACCOUNTABILITY PART IS
LIKE THE MAJOR ELEMEN
SO THE ACCOUNTABILITY PART IS LIKE THE MAJOR ELEMENT OF IT
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. WHAT IS WONDERFUL IS T
HERE. WHAT IS WONDERFUL IS THAT THESE
ARE MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS T
WHAT IS WONDERFUL IS THAT THESE ARE MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS THAT
THESE RETAILERS ARE SIGNIN
ARE MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS THAT THESE RETAILERS ARE SIGNING.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY G
THESE RETAILERS ARE SIGNING. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
CHECKING IN WITH THEM EVERY
QUARTER AND WORKING ON HITTING
THESE TANGIBLE GOALS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT
ANYONE TO DO OVERNIGHT, RIGHT?
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE I
ANYONE TO DO OVERNIGHT, RIGHT? SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE IS
AT 3% NOW, THE G
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE IS AT 3% NOW, THE GOAL MI
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE IS AT 3% NOW, THE GOAL MIGHT BE TO
DOUBLE THAT OR TO ADD ONE
PERCENT OR TWO PERCENT EVERY
QUARTER.
QUARTER.
QUARTER. SO WE BENCHMARK IT OUT WITH THEM
TO WORK TOWARDS HITTING TANGIBLE
GOALS AND DOING IT IN A WAY THAT
IS GOING TO SERVE EVERYONE.
>> Andrew: SO I'M CLEAR WHEN YOU
SAY CONTRACT, WE'RE NOT TAL
>> Andrew: SO I'M CLEAR WHEN YOU SAY CONTRACT, WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT ETHER
SAY CONTRACT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ETHEREAL CONTRACT, YOU ARE
TALKING PEN TO PAPER C
ABOUT ETHEREAL CONTRACT, YOU ARE TALKING PEN TO PAPER CONTR
ABOUT ETHEREAL CONTRACT, YOU ARE TALKING PEN TO PAPER CONTRACT?
>> YES, THERE ARE PEN AND PAPER
CONTRACTS WITH ALL OF THE MAJOR
RETAILERS.
RETAILERS. IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
>> Andrew: I HAVE TO ASK YOU, IS
THERE A CYNICAL OR A SKEPTICAL
SIDE INSIDE OF YOU THAT WONDERS
IF THE COMPANIES THAT SIGNED ON,
IF THIS IS I
IF THE COMPANIES THAT SIGNED ON, IF THIS IS INFORMATIVE IN A WAY?
>> YEAH, I MEAN -- IT'S TOUGH.
BECAUSE CORPORATIONS HA
>> YEAH, I MEAN -- IT'S TOUGH. BECAUSE CORPORATIONS HAVE TO
PROTECT THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
SO DO I ALWAYS THINK THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE PLEDGE
AT THE FIRST AND FOREMO
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE PLEDGE AT THE FIRST AND FOREMOST OF
WHAT THEIR, YOU KNOW, GOALS ARE?
NO.
NO.
NO. I
NO. I THINK THAT IF THEY HAVE A
REALLY BAD SEASON, IF WE S
I THINK THAT IF THEY HAVE A REALLY BAD SEASON, IF WE SEE
THAT STORES ARE CLOS
REALLY BAD SEASON, IF WE SEE THAT STORES ARE CLOSED ACROSS
AMERICA AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AND IN
A REALLY MAJOR WAY, THEY'LL
FIRST HAVE TO MAKE S
A REALLY MAJOR WAY, THEY'LL FIRST HAVE TO MAKE SURE TH
A REALLY MAJOR WAY, THEY'LL FIRST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE
NOT SHUTTERING THEIR DOORS
BECAUSE THAT WON'T HELP A
NOT SHUTTERING THEIR DOORS BECAUSE THAT WON'T HELP ANYWAYS.
BUT I DO HAVE A LOT OF FAITH
BECAUSE THAT WON'T HELP ANYWAYS. BUT I DO HAVE A LOT OF FAITH.
AND I THINK THAT 2020 IS CALLING
ON ALL OF US TO BE GREATER A
AND I THINK THAT 2020 IS CALLING ON ALL OF US TO BE GREATER AND
TO FIND TH
ON ALL OF US TO BE GREATER AND TO FIND THE WORDS AND TO FUMBLE
THE BALL AND S
TO FIND THE WORDS AND TO FUMBLE THE BALL AND STILL K
TO FIND THE WORDS AND TO FUMBLE THE BALL AND STILL KEEP PLAYING
THE GAME.
THE GAME.
THE GAME. WE ARE DISCU
THE GAME. WE ARE DISCUSSING INCREDIBLY
COMPLEX IDEAS RIGHT NOW ABOUT
RACE, GENDER AND ID
COMPLEX IDEAS RIGHT NOW ABOUT RACE, GENDER AND IDENTITY, AL
COMPLEX IDEAS RIGHT NOW ABOUT RACE, GENDER AND IDENTITY, ALL
OF THESE THINGS WITH A
KINDERGARTEN VOCABULARY.
KINDERGARTEN VOCABULARY. AND WE ALL NEED TO BE MORE
CONFIDENT IN ASKING QUESTIONS
AND BEIN
CONFIDENT IN ASKING QUESTIONS AND BEING BRAVE AND STANDING UP
FOR EACH OTHER.
>> Andrew: SO WHAT IS I
FOR EACH OTHER. >> Andrew: SO WHAT IS IT DO YOU
THINK THAT HAS SORT OF DRIVEN
YOU TO DO WHAT YO
THINK THAT HAS SORT OF DRIVEN YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DO?
>> OH, MY GOSH, YOU GUYS A
YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DO? >> OH, MY GOSH, YOU GUYS ARE
GOING TO CALL ME CRA
>> OH, MY GOSH, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO CALL ME CRAZY HERE.
BUT IT MIG
GOING TO CALL ME CRAZY HERE. BUT IT MIGHT BE BEING CANADIAN,
YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW? >> Andrew: YOU'VE GOT TO EXPLAIN
THAT ONE TO ME.
>> IT'S SUCH A HUGE PART OF M
THAT ONE TO ME. >> IT'S SUCH A HUGE PART OF MY
D.N.A. AND MY PURPOSE, YOU KNOW.
I W
D.N.A. AND MY PURPOSE, YOU KNOW. I WENT TO ELE
D.N.A. AND MY PURPOSE, YOU KNOW. I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH
KIDS THAT LOOKED LIKE ME AND
LOOKED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE
ME AND E
LOOKED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE ME AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
LOOKED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE ME AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
WE CELEBRATED ALL OF OUR
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS. WE SHARED OUR CULTUR
HOLIDAYS. WE SHARED OUR CULTURAL
TRADITIONS WITH EACH OTHER.
AND I WAS IN KENSINGTON MARKET
FOR FOUR YEARS IN TORONTO.
WE'RE ALL THERE.
LIKE, WORK
WE'RE ALL THERE. LIKE, WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.
OH, WHAT KIND DO YOU HAVE
LIKE, WORKING WITH EACH OTHER. OH, WHAT KIND DO YOU HAVE, W
LIKE, WORKING WITH EACH OTHER. OH, WHAT KIND DO YOU HAVE, WE'RE
A GIANT FAMILY IN CANADA.
AND THAT NEED
A GIANT FAMILY IN CANADA. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED
AT ALL COSTS.
AND THAT REALLY IS THE
FOUNDATION THAT MADE ME WHO I AM
NOW.
NOW.
NOW. >>
NOW. >> Andrew: WELL, I THINK WE CAN
ALL CHEER TO T
>> Andrew: WELL, I THINK WE CAN ALL CHEER TO THAT.
AURORA JAMES, IT'S BEEN REALLY
WONDERFUL TALKING TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MY PLEAS 1536 00:07:05,625 --> 00:00:00,000 THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MY PLEASURE.