This timely and gorgeously illustrated companion book to an upcoming
Smithsonian exhibition explores the power of Afrofuturism to reclaim the
past and reimagine Black futures
Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures explores the evolving and
exhilarating concept of Afrofuturism, a lens used to imagine a more
empowering future for the Black community through music, art, and
speculative fiction. Sumptuous, beautifully designed spreads feature 100
gorgeous illustrations of objects and images that reflect Black
identity, agency, creativity, and hope, including: T'Challa's suit from
Black Panther, Octavia Butler's typewriter, Uhura's outfit from Star
Trek, Sun Ra's space harp, costumes from Broadway's The Wiz,
handwritten lyrics by Jimi Hendrix, and Janelle Monae's ArchAndroid
dress.
Chapters include essays from a diverse group of scholars who reflect on
themes such as legacy, alienation, and activism, with profiles on
influential people and objects:
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Foreword & Introduction Provides background on Afrofuturism
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Chapter 1 - Space is the Place Reflects on space and its defining
connection to Afrofuturism and its African cultural legacy
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Chapter 2 - Speculative Worlds Explores short stories, Black
speculative fiction and sci-fi, comics, and Black superheroes as
bastions of Afrofuturist expression
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Chapter 3 - Visualizing Afrofuturism Analyzes the vast visual
culture of Afrofuturism
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Chapter 4 - Musical Futures Explores Afrofuturism and music
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Afterword
Afrofuturism offers a framework of radical potential to envision Black
liberation and alternatives to oppressive structures like white
supremacy. Afrofuturism comes at a time of increasing visibility for
the concept, both in scholarship and in pop culture, and is a compelling
ode to the revolutionary power of Black imagination.
CONTRIBUTORS Reynaldo Anderson, Tiffany E. Barber, Herb Boyd, Ariana
Curtis, Eve L. Ewing, Tuliza Fleming, Nona Hendryx, N. K. Jemisin, John
Jennings, Steven Lewis, Mark Anthony Neal, Alondra Nelson, De Nichols,
Elaine Nichols, William S. Pretzer, Vernon Reid, Matthew Shindell, Kevin
M. Strait, Angela Tate, Michelle Wilkinson, Ytasha L. Womack, Alisha B.
Wormsley, and Kevin Young
