Honoring Black History Month: The Evolution And Influence Of Afrofuturism

In celebration of Black History Month 2024, themed “African Americans and the Arts,” we wanted to focus on the Afrofuturism and it’s evolution and influence over the years.

Afrofuturism is a movement that merges science fiction, tech, history, and African diaspora culture. 

Origins And Evolution

Afrofuturism, a term coined by Mark Dery in 1993, has roots that trace back even before it was named. 

It represents a cultural, aesthetic, and philosophical movement encompassing science, technology, and the history of the African diaspora. 

As author and filmmaker Ytasha L. Womack described, this movement is an intersection of imagination, technology, the future, and liberation, viewed through a Black cultural lens.

“Whether through literature, visual arts, music, or grassroots organizing, Afrofuturists redefine culture and notions of blackness for today and the future,” Womack’s book, Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture, reads.

“Afrofuturism combines elements of science fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, Afrocentricity, and magic realism with non-Western beliefs. In some cases, it’s a total reenvisioning of the past and speculation about the future rife with cultural critiques.”

Afrofuturism In Art And Technology

Afrofuturism’s influence is evident in various artistic movements like the New Negro, Black Arts, Black Renaissance, and hip-hop. 

It’s a movement that has set global trends, seen in the works of artists like Sun Ra, an American jazz composer whose combination of music, theatrics, and metaphysical poetics opened a new dimension in jazz.

Afrofuturism was also featured with Janelle Monáe, whose songs are inspired by the alienation and oppression that AI faces in fictional worlds, Octavia Butler, and in films like “Black Panther.”

Technological advancements, including the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, AI, and blockchain, are reshaping artistic practices. 

For instance, Lewis Long’s Long Gallery in Harlem, with its 3D virtual walkthroughs and Dedren Snead’s studio vision of a “Black Pixar,” show how Afrofuturism and technology are intersecting in exciting, innovative ways.

The Broader Influence

Afrofuturism offers more than an artistic aesthetic; it’s a way of navigating and understanding the world.

It serves as a modality for healing and introspection, providing hopeful visions of the future that differ from mainstream dystopian narratives. 

This movement breaks down racial constructs and reclaims humanity beyond racial norms.