As he prepared for the year's biggest fashion show in Paris on Tuesday, musician-turned-designer Pharrell Williams told AFP he was aware of the traumatic history behind the rise of black culture.
Pharrell Williams – Freedom (Video)
“We wish our culture and our people didn't have to suffer so much to get us here,” said Williams, who was scheduled to make his debut as Louis Vuitton's menswear director later that day.
“It is not lost on me that many people have died, many people have lost their lives and suffered… to get us into these positions.”
The singer/producer is the second black American in a row to take over the menswear division of Louis Vuitton, the world's most lucrative luxury brand, a sign that hip-hop culture has come to dominate global fashion.