Afrofuturism is a concept that explores the intersection between the African diaspora and Futurism. This collection, while exploring Afrofuturism, also includes topics of gender and feminism in different aspects of culture from art to science.

Representation of Black Women in Afrofuturism
Afrofuturism is a cultural genre that explores the possibilities of Black lives in future generations. Artists in the genre often imagine a world in which Black people are no longer persecuted and subject to discrimination as they are at the time of the artist’s life. Afrofuturism has given Black people the opportunity to reclaim their power and culture on their own terms. In the same vein, Afrofuturism gives Black women a space to voice their own culture in a powerful manner. They become role models like Nichelle Nichols when she starred as Lt. Uhura in the Futuristic “Star Trek,” inspiring more women to follow the virtues, strength, and empowerment that Afrofuturism projects. Afrofuturism, therefore, has long been an important genre in the feminist movement by both giving a voice to and inspiring women of all ages in all facets of the genre—film, art, music, design, etc.

Feminism Theme in Afrofuturism
Since Afrofuturism has been a space for Black people to express themselves and design a better future for the following generations, it is reasonable that Black women have been an integral part of the genre. As a genre where the ideal futures are created, Black women have been able to explore their identities while being Black and women, free from criticism and discrimination, racism and misogyny. Even before the term Afrofuturism was coined in 1993 by scholar Mark Dery, the concept itself was a big part of Black expression. In 1773, Phillis Wheatly became the first Black author and second woman to publish a poems book. She wrote about a future where Black people could be free, and wrote of imagination as a feminine force. Along with women like Nichelle Nichols, Octavia Butler, and the Hidden Figures at NASA, feminism has been a constant, powerful theme in Afrofuturism where the intersection between race and gender has expressed itself in all parts of culture.

Octavia Butler, Science Fiction
Octavia E. Butler, born 1947, was an American science-fiction novelist. She was one of the important people to advance the genre of Afrofuturism. Instead of writing like typical Western novels focused on white main characters, she would incorporate Black themes throughout. Her characters were survivors in a world that oppressed them, which is similar to many other works of Afrofuturism—Black characters have autonomy to fight what oppressive forces they experience today. In addition, many of her novels feature female protagonists, therefore “challenging social hierarchies of race, class, and gender.” (Smithsonian). The virtual Smithsonian museum features a meaningful quote by her that describes the Afrofuturism genre well: “You’ve got to make your own worlds. You’ve got to write yourself in.” Afrofuturism was born from the need to create a place for Black people to exist in, even if it may be fictional as it is evident that Afrofuturism has real world effects (such as with Nichelle Nichols’ influence on NASA’s hiring of Black astronauts).

Reflection
Before this project, I was not aware of Afrofuturism’s existence. On surface-level, it appeared to be just another niche genre meant to expand and share the Black experience. Going through the Smithsonian virtual museum of Afrofuturism, I quickly realised that it was much greater than that simplified view I had of the genre. Its roots are far older than I imagined them being, older than the United States itself. It was not just born from the appeal of science-fiction in the 70’s, but rather it was a thought exercise that created many Black futures where a Black character’s race and gender, in intersection, was a powerful identity that pushed past the oppressive and discriminatory world the creators—Black authors, artists, singers—lived in. Afrofuturism was far from being constrained to books and canvases. It influenced the real world in meaningful ways. Black girls found role models through Octavia Butler’s characters, aspiring astronauts like Mae Jemison saw themselves in Lt. Uhura, and countless more found a space to just exist in, peacefully and with full autonomy over their futures.