Afrofuturism, as a genre, describes fictional works which encompass Black science fiction and may engage with any and all structural elements of the broader umbrella of subgenres (horror, fantasy, magical realism, historical fiction, etc.) classified under Black speculative fiction.[1][2][3]
Afrofuturist literary works resist singular notions of a “Black” cultural experience.[4] Instead, Afrofuturist narratives draw upon a variety of ethnic, national, regional histories and cosmologies, as well as indigenous religious frameworks.[5] Thematically, Afrofuturist literature delves into revisionist or alternative history making, while galvanizing conversations on social injustice and Black liberation. Afrofuturist literature investigates questions of Black intellectual production, materiality, and intellectual ownership, while reimagining the potential futures of individuals within the Afrodiaspora.[6]
The emerging genre of Afrofuturist literature is influenced by two strands, Afro-pessimism and Black optimism.[7] Afro-pessimism asserts that the violence of colonialism and slavery contributes to a definition of Blackness as a state of non-being. In this state, Black individuals exist within and yet are alienated from the rest of society.[8] In Afrofuturist literature, Afro-pessimism underscores a bleak view of futurity and any inherent possibility for Black self-determination and social advancement.[9][10] In contrast, Black optimism reconsiders Blackness after slavery and colonialism relative to modernity, technology, and culture. Black optimism emphasizes Blackness as a complete and holistic state of being.[11] It rejects the essentialism and inherent abjectness of socially-determined “Blackness” as portrayed in Afro-pessimism.[12][13] Within the context of Afrofuturist literature, the Black imaginary and its creative expression are essential pivot points for self-determining futurity.
^Carrington, André M. (2016-02-29). Speculative Blackness: The Future of Race in Science Fiction. U of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-1-4529-4975-8.
^Lavender (III), Isiah (2019). Afrofuturism Rising: The Literary Prehistory of a Movement. Ohio State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8142-5556-8.
^Bould, Mark (2007). "The Ships Landed Long Ago: Afrofuturism and Black SF". Science Fiction Studies. 34 (2): 177–186. ISSN 0091-7729. JSTOR 4241520.
^Culture, Nat'l Mus Afr Am Hist (2023-03-21). Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures. Soho Press. ISBN 978-1-58834-740-4.
^McDougall, Audrey Suzanne (2020-05-15). "Afrofuturism: Blackness, Sound, and Counter-Narratives". Journal of Integrated Studies. 12 (1). ISSN 2816-3001.
^Ogbunu, C. Brandon. "How Afrofuturism Can Help the World Mend". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
^Hill-Jarrett, Tanisha G. (2023). "The Black radical imagination: a space of hope and possible futures". Frontiers in Neurology. 14. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1241922. ISSN 1664-2295. PMC 10557459. PMID 37808484.
^Wilderson, Frank B., III (2020-04-07). Afropessimism. Liveright Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63149-615-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Warren, Calvin L. (2015-03-01). "Black Nihilism and the Politics of Hope" (PDF). CR: The New Centennial Review. 15 (1): 215–248. doi:10.14321/crnewcentrevi.15.1.0215. ISSN 1532-687X. S2CID 145258705.
^Moten, Fred (2008). "The Case of Blackness". Criticism. 50 (2): 177–218. doi:10.1353/crt.0.0062. ISSN 0011-1589. JSTOR 23128740. S2CID 154145525.
^Hart, William David (2018-01-01). "Constellations: Capitalism, Antiblackness, Afro-Pessimism, and Black Optimism". American Journal of Theology & Philosophy. 39 (1): 5–33. doi:10.5406/amerjtheophil.39.1.0005. ISSN 0194-3448.
reimagining the potential futures of individuals within the Afrodiaspora. The emerging genre ofAfrofuturistliterature is influenced by two strands, Afro-pessimism...
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rays of the sun. Miyale Ya Blue is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and is featured amongst a collection ofAfrofuturist artworks...
acknowledge themes of patriarchy and feminist science fiction literature. The film is an Afrofuturist story set in a village in Burundi made of computer parts...
new stories to African Futurism genre Egan, Toussaint (May 2, 2023). "Afrofuturist animated series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire coming to Disney Plus"....
"The Mundane Afrofuturist Manifesto", which asserts that "Mundane Afrofuturism is the ultimate laboratory for worldbuilding outside of imperialist, capitalist...
Durosomo, Damola (March 29, 2017). "This 23-Year-Old Nigerian Author's Afrofuturist Novel Has Been Picked Up By Fox Studios". OkayAfrica. Retrieved April...
Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-02-02. "Horn Book Fanfare: Best Books of 1985 - Folklore". The Horn...
Biography of a Calypso Icon. Kitch was shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Royal Society ofLiterature's Encore Award, and long listed for...
about that future’s reality." Literature such as Black Quantum Futurism Theory & Practice, Volume 1 written by Afrofuturist and black science fiction author...
capital of Madagascar. Due earned a B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and an M.A. in English literature, with...
National Book Award Longlist, Young People's Literature for The Summer Prince, 2013 GLBTRT Top Ten Rainbow List for The Summer Prince, 2014 Junior Library...
Voice of Contemporary Literature. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015. Kelly, Adam. "Freedom to Struggle: The Ironies of Colson Whitehead". Open Library of the Humanities...
rhythms of prayer, and the syncopated sounds of multilingual urban slang." Described as a book with Afrofuturist influences, Osman wrote the novel on his...
Culture: A Conversation with Sheree Renée Thomas, Clarkesworld (July 2021) Afrofuturist Writer Sheree Renée Thomas, In the Green Room, Zocalo (September 30th...
two books a year. He has written in a variety of fiction categories, including mystery and afrofuturist science fiction, as well as nonfiction politics...
free/avant-garde, Afrofuturist, and fusion jazz, African-American artists continued to evolve the genre to adapt to the social trends of their time. One of the core...
culture African American history Africanfuturism Afrofuturism American literatureListof African-American writers Black conservatism in the United States Williams...
Award for Canadian Literatureof the Fantastic in 2003. The Salt Roads received the Gaylactic Spectrum Award for positive exploration of queer issues in...
Professor of Theatre and Afro-American Studies at Smith College. She teaches playwriting, African, African American, and Caribbean theatre literature. Her...
Woronzoff for PopMatters noted that Black Is King engages with the Afrofuturist themes of "reliance on the cosmos for explanation and influence" and "the...
of Nigerian heritage, has designed furniture for Bernhard Design, Sé, and Knoll. Works by both Tariku and Archibong are included in the Afrofuturist Period...
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