SF and Afrofuturism
Mark Bould discusses in his article The Ships Landed Long Ago: Afrofuturism and Black SF the relationship between Afrofuturism and Black SF, along with how society contributes to these ideas. He discusses many of the works of African Americans along with pieces that incorporate African Americans into them, and how these pieces contribute to our perception of them in our communities. He goes on to talk about how many authors have taken the color-blind route when discussing the future using SF, meaning that this is a future where race does not matter anymore. He writes, “But sf is ‘a point of cultural departure’ for all of these writers and musicians, because ‘it allows for a series of worst-case futures-of hells-on-Earth and being in them-which are woven into every kind of everyday present reality’ (“Loving the Alien”). The ‘central fact’ of the black sf they produce ‘is an acknowledgement that Apocalypse already happened,’ that, in Public Enemy’s words, ‘Armageddon been in effect,’” (Bould, 180). This quote explains what SF as well as Afrofuturism means to many artists and how they view themselves and their struggles with fighting for equality.
Although Bould explains that many authors use SF in order to portray a horrible future, acting as a warning for us to change our behavior, many artists also like the take the opposite route when attempting to see a better future for themselves, taking the optimistic route and seeing themselves in power. The film Black Panther is an example of this. Coogler uses this film to portray a hidden society located in Africa in which science and technology has provided significant resources, allowing this society to be far more advanced than all others on Earth. They use a futuristic view of this society while the rest of the world is not nearly as advanced, placing these people in a high position of power. Although this is a utopian society that can provide lots of hope, especially for the black communities who have been struggling to be respected in society for centuries, Coogler doesn’t fail to incorporate the “Hells-on-Earth” aspects of black culture in today’s world. He brings in the struggles that African Americans face on a daily basis and their power struggles to be respected in society. He shows the anger that many of these people have for how people treat them and the need for change.
Janelle Monae is another famous African American artist that has portrays Afrofuturism in much of her work. Janelle also likes to incorporate the optimistic future ideas as well as including the darker side of things for how African Americans have been disrespected in the past and continue to be disrespected today. Janelle says, “We get to paint a different world on our own terms. I get to be whoever I want to be through Afrofuturism,” (Monae). She explains how this is an artistic way for her to express herself and give power to the African American community by showing them that they have strength to be whatever they want to be. However, in her music video for Tightrope, Monae shows a more oppressed future where she and many other African Americans seem to be in an institution that is very bland, but they make the most of it through their song and dance, bringing life into the place.
Both Coogler and Monae portray their own ideas of what African Americans can be in the future and how they will one say be able to take their lives into their own hands and be whatever they want to be. SF and Afrofuturism can both be great ways for artists to use media to portray what the African American society could one day be, as well as putting the past behind them, not forgetting it, but growing and learning from it. This can be a way for African Americans to prove that “Armageddon has been in effect,” and use this to push forward in society, as well as act as a warning to never go back.
Barton, G., Massie, V., & Posner, J. (n.d.). Afrofuturism mixes sci-fi and social justice. Here’s how it works. Retrieved November 6, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlPwTMMhGGI
Bould, M. (2007). The Ships Landed Long Ago: Afrofuturism and Black SF. Science Fiction Studies, 34(2), 177–186. [PDF in D2L]
Coogler, R. (2018). Black Panther [Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi]. Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures.
The Defiant Sci-Fi of Janelle Monae. (2017). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdylle_hPgQ&fbclid=IwAR3q8fiRTFxuuiCG8nxKRObnG7-8MBK8DgQtOwCYkRN6_nZv3_GV8TzqU_0
Tightrope [feat. Big Boi]. (2010). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc
Zhou, D. (2020, November 14). Janelle Monae on Afrofuturism [FULL LENGTH]. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://vimeo.com/264269855
