The #BlackHistoryIsNow movement is still going strong as Blavity has teamed up with Spotify to find ways to celebrate black history beyond February.
While black history is imperative in understanding where we come from, reflecting on our black future can help us imagine where we can go.
This is why Afrofuturism, a movement filled with futuristic themes that incorporates elements of black history and culture, is so important — and why we must all work to better embrace it.
So we teamed up with Spotify to ask Twitter users what they think about Afrofuturism and why it matters. Check out the responses below!
We kicked off the discussion by asking users how they define Afrofuturism:
Blackness without limits. https://t.co/oMPpHObt7D— langston hues (@reggienotreggie) April 6, 2018
– It Gives Black People An Alternative Narrative. A Future To Look Forward To https://t.co/kIHqwe1Ip3— Lil Parks???? (@EPfromthe501) April 6, 2018
Decolonized blackness. https://t.co/30m1soXlYr— FlawΣ & All???????????? (@__PettyShabazz) April 6, 2018
Afrofuturism is a verb — it’s black people taking action to create the future of our dreams. Afrofuturism spans across multiple disciplines, and includes everything from how we envision technology, literature, and art. In an interview with CNN, founder of arts and animation company Kugali, Fikayo Adeola said, "It's people of African descent looking at themselves in the future and what their society and their culture will look like ten years from now, twenty years from now, a thousand years from now.”
Here are a few reasons why we love the concept of Afrofuturism:
It's Main Thesis Is Infinite Possibilities – The Future Is Now And Forever ☄ https://t.co/BXsMgVFPWE— Lil Parks???? (@EPfromthe501) April 6, 2018
It embraces the quirky blackness that is forced underground. https://t.co/5XH0zY10dc— To Tiwi, with love ????; (@MoniqueNSmith) April 6, 2018
It frees us from the weight of being defined as one thing and allows more people to feel comfortable being themselves. #afrofuturism— Trumpet Wom' (@trumpetgrrrl) April 6, 2018
I love the exploration, examining as well as the addressing of past/present themes of our culture through boundless and imaginative film, television, music, literature and art. https://t.co/tGtyeOJIqs— Hero for Hire (@UptownRoamer) April 6, 2018
From the past to the present, Afrofuturism has no boundaries. Artists who embody Afrofuturism include legends such as Prince, Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott. There is no shortage of talent and artists who use Afrofuturistic themes in their work.
All of Missy Elliot and Busta's music video filmography https://t.co/kNruGU6lNd— Morgan (@mashclash) April 6, 2018
No Brainer @JanelleMonae ✨???? https://t.co/26VKddtfLj— ORORO. (@_itsNitalove) April 6, 2018
Prince, George Clinton, Janelle Monáe, Janet Jackson https://t.co/anXcsobAAP— MaBinti Yillah (@mabyillah) April 6, 2018
Definitely Erykah Badu! I love her so much #BlackHistoryIsNow. Thats what made me paint her. Also Kelis, she's been doing #afrofuturism. pic.twitter.com/H0M81fOAVP— Simone Agoussoye, Fine Artist (@fancybosslady89) April 6, 2018
TLC, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, N*E*R*D, Timbaland, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson. I actually really, really love seeing afrofuturism in videos.
That VA Beach crew has always been afrofuturistic. https://t.co/Epw86JKTS4— ॐ काली ओम (@fivefooterxx) April 6, 2018
The hit film “Black Panther” reignited a sense of the power and purpose of Afrofuturism. After the premiere of the movie, some teachers began teaching Wakanda curriculum to inform and engage their students of true black history. Our audiences shared with us aspects of society they would love to change.
Reinvent The Concept Of Money — Make It Less Fiat https://t.co/3X8WH7VZef— Lil Parks???? (@EPfromthe501) April 6, 2018
Black history is happening all around, and the future is ours to create. To get more inspiration and help motivate you in your own journey of excellence, check out Spotify’s special “Black History Is Happening Now” hub curated by the queen of all things excellent, Janelle Monáe.