Research Paper On Afrofuturism

What is Afrofuturism?

The term “Afrofuturism refers to a flourishing contemporary movement of African American, African, and Black diasporic writers, artists, musicians, and theorists” (English 2017). “Afrofuturism comprises cultural production and scholarly thought—literature, visual art, photography, film, multimedia art, performance art, music, and theory that” envisions freedom justice and equality interconnected with an unrestricted manifestation of the black existence in the future or alternate/parallel universe (English 2017). It ponders a universe where blackness is not seen as the ‘other[ed]’ but normal, where existing bias and prejudices concerning people of color cease to exist or never existed at all. “More broadly defined, Afrofuturism

Coined by Mark Dery in 1994 Afrofuturism is “speculative fiction that treats African American themes and addresses African American concerns in the context of the 20th century techno culture and, more generally, African American signification that appropriates images of technology and prosthetic ally enhanced future” (Yehouessi n.d.). With more time and introspection Dery developed his concept of Afrofuturism to mean a reclaiming of the future through reformist means by “relocating our cultural conversation about the promise of technology… and begin to build a progressive, pragmatic futurism” (Yehouessi n.d.). Dery’s ability to transform and engage with the meaning of the phrase shows that what constitutes as ‘Afrofuturism’ is dynamic, ever evolving with the time and culture and indeed “inherently open” (Yehouessi

While I definitely understand the appeal of “Wakanda”, and pleasure and the optimism it evokes, I also know that the charm of the afro futuristic future in Black Panther stems from the weariness of the current plight of blackness. I don’t want to fantasize about a place where I am safe in my own skin, I need the reality of it. I get tired my black male presence being seen as threatening, or disturbing, the uncomfortable silence in an elevator, the rushing to ones car if I happen to be in a lot. I disdain the micro-aggressions in other academic departments, or the mental preparation of walking on a predominately white campus. The vexing over “being careful”, because black men can’t be too careful; so I am careful not to wear my sneakers, careful not linger, careful not scare anyone. I, like perhaps most black men, find myself enthralled with anxiety when the sound of sirens are glaring behind me as I drive. I am not numb to the narrative that prevails when black men encounter law enforcement. I shuddered with Trayvon Martin’s death, I was angered watching as Eric Gardner was strangled while submissively on his knees, I wept watching Philando Castile being gunned down live. I listened as my aunt told me in tears that she prayed for our children to be girls because she is afraid of raising a