Futurism or more specifically AfroFuturism?
Finding a way forward
As I’ve worked with the Routes‘ team to put the February edition together. I’ve found myself encountering a recurring theme “futurism” in various cultural forums.
In January, I’d reflected on this theme too. We didn’t publish. I decided to take a much needed vacation. I hoped for a restful pause. I looked forward to regaining my perspective on the impact of African-American culture globally.
It was as I walked along the sandy shores of the Canary Islands. The coast of Africa lay on the distant horizons. My thoughts danced:
- What could we do differently to move the magazine to the next level?
- What could we do to increase its visibility?
- How could we make it a financially viable business?
It became obvious to me that I’m determined in my mission to have Routes continue to serve as a guide to African-American Culture around the globe.
I mentally catalogued all the articles, we’d published over the years. Articles we’d published about leaders and influencers of the past and the present. I knew with some certainty we would be back to publishing again in February. I was already planning the articles with my writers. But a rather timely theme was organically taking seed. This theme was “futurism” — or more specifically AfroFuturism.
Futurism or more specifically AfroFuturism
There have been endless discussions with friends. I questioned members of the Routes team; I’ve read numerous articles. I’ve watched several videos. I’ve found no universally agreed upon definition. My questions abound:
- Who are the defining founders?
- How are the contemporary practitioners a part of the original movement?
- Is it once more cultural appropriation?
In our editorial discussions, we were so focused on the distressing present day topics. So much so, that we were letting go of our past. It is the present day discussion of critical race theory. We will revisit it in future editions. Over past two years, we all have been living under the very real and present danger of the pandemic. We have been focused on our basic day to day survival. So, in the midst of all of this, how could we be talking about futurism?
During one of our editorial conversations, one of my writers posited, “Haven’t we, as a people, always been about the future?” That resonated. It was key to me and the mission of the magazine in many ways. As a people, subjected to the adversity of the past, we’ve often looked hopefully beyond. Be it, as simple as
- the next day, or
- as complex as our spiritual commitment.
As I share this issue with you, we too are looking to the future
- in our content this month, and
- to a new commitment to doubling down our enthusiasm to build the legacies for tomorrow’s generations.