Black AMerican Futurism
Black American Futurism is a philosophy of thought that is rooted in enabling and empowering the Black American imagination. Unlike Afrofuturism, which often focuses on speculative and imaginative futures, Black American Futurism is about both imagining and actively building those futures.
It envisions a world where the full spectrum of Black imagination is actualized and tangible, functional and usable. This means that the ideas and creations born from the Black imagination are not only visionary but also practical, serving real-world needs and improving everyday life.
In this future, Black imaginators are not just included but are leading the way in shaping narratives across all forms of media, innovation, design, technology, architecture, literature, and government.
This vision requires a collective effort to dismantle barriers and create Black spaces where the Black imagination can thrive. By making the Black imagination functional and usable, we ensure that it has a direct impact on our communities, addressing issues and creating solutions that are relevant and beneficial.
To build the future we are imagining for ourselves and collectively, the Black imagination must occupy and play a role in many spaces.
Black American Futurism is unique to the idea of what the future is like for Black Americans. We must become engineers, architects, city planners, scientists, capitalists, and more to take control in shaping what tomorrow will be like for us. It is about changing our communities, neighborhoods, schools, cities, and states through design, without asking for permission to create the things we are imagining.
By occupying these spaces, we can ensure that the Black imagination is free to explore, innovate, and inspire. This involves not only envisioning a better future but also actively working towards it by taking on roles that allow us to design and build the world we want to see.
We must own the future by designing it. Black American Futurism is the act of taking ownership of our future in the world that we live in by designing it to be exactly what we imagine.
We must accumulate the skills and become masters of our crafts in order to build this future. Imagining isn't enough; we must train our hands.
To be a Black American futurist, you must first begin by imagining yourself in the future. This means envisioning your place and role in the world of tomorrow.
You must no longer let the future be a mystery; instead, you must actively work towards building the future you have imagined for yourself. This involves setting goals, acquiring the necessary skills, and taking concrete steps to turn your vision into reality.
By doing so, you not only shape your own future but also contribute to the collective effort of building a world where Black imagination and creativity are celebrated and empowered.
This is the Way.
with love + imagination
-MR. TOMONOSHi!
