Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism is an aesthetic centered around an Afrocentric view of the future (it shares some similarity to Solarpunk [which is something of a misnomer itself since Solarpunk is a less dystopian worldview compared to Cyberpunk]) and buys into the philosophy that the future is black. 
Afrofuturism is one of the rare aesthetics that can encompass the visual medium, fashion, the written word, and music, and tackles themes such as feminism, alienation from your people, the grotesque, water symbolism, and reclamation of one's identity through their roots. Afrofuturist thought is probably what inspired the initial push for the Art Hoe movement.
Probably the most popular example of Afrofuturism in popular culture right now is Black Panther.
== Music ==
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Afrofuturist music is said to have its roots in the late 1950s thanks to jazz musician Herman Poole Blount (better known as Sun Ra), and continued the tradition with funk musician George Clinton, legendary rock star Jimi Hendrix, rapper Missy Elliot, and even modern artists like Janelle Monáe, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Busta Rhymes, Outkast (especially Andre 3000), and even Beyoncé to a lesser extent exhibit elements of the Afrofuturist aesthetics and philosophy. It is here that Afrofuturism is probably best known to the layperson in terms of its offering, considering many artists in the Afrofuturist school have become bona fide musical legends.
== Visual ==
thumb|330x330px|This music video contains elements of Afrofuturism in its aesthetics.
The Afrofuturist aesthetic takes common science fiction elements and mixes in African traditions and fashion with it; the best-known example of Afrofuturism is Black Panther (which has, indeed, led to Afrofuturism entering into mainstream discussion and is noteworthy for having a predominantly black cast and crew).
Possibly the earliest visual work of Afrofuturism is actually none other than the legendary science fiction series Star Trek thanks to the character of Nyota Uhura (played by Nichelle Nichols), the communications officer of the USS Enterprise. A popular story told about Star Trek is Nichelle Nichols being encouraged by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to stay on the show because of how important her role on the show was to portraying a more positive future for the African American community at the time, saying:
"For the first time on television, we [people of African descent] will be seen as we should be seen every day, as intelligent, quality, beautiful people who can sing and dance, yes, but who can go into space, who can be lawyers and teachers, who can be professors — who are in this day, yet you don't see it on television until now."
When she told this to series creator Gene Roddenberry, he replied simply with "Finally, someone gets it." Other visual works of Afrofuturism include the Blade trilogy, Space is the Place (starring Sun Ra), and A Wrinkle in Time, as well as the paintings of artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Angelbert Metoyer, Sheeba Maya, Manzel Bowman, and Mshindo Kuumba.
== Fashion ==
Afrofuturist fashion draws very heavily upon traditional African prints and colors and adapts them to more modern and fashion-forward clothing styles to create a distinctly African identity, often looking like a real life super hero in the process (but don't confuse the two, please; Afrofuturist fashion is a form of self-expression, not an attempt for them to become vigilantes). 
In the 70s, American soul and funk artists adopted a quasi-futuristic, androgynous style similar to British Glam Rock but often with heavier metallic fabrics and accessories. (Artists like James Brown, George Clinton, and Sly and the Family Stone are key examples of this.) In the 80s, artists like Grace Jones and Afrika Bambaataa furthered this aesthetic in their own distinctly creative ways.
While some Afrofuturists can draw explicitly from their particular tribal history for their fashion aesthetics, others (who may not be as well-versed in their national and tribal history; a common occurrence in African Americans due to the vast majority having their ancestors forced over to the States via the slave trade) are sort of left to their own devices and try to get the best approximation of their cultural heritage that they can be based on the traits of the different African tribes, which can lead to some absolutely breathtaking fashion that could, very well, be the future of fashion. One particular piece of advice for creating one's own Afrofuturist fashion is "Listen to your spirit".
== Literature ==
There are many examples of Afrofuturist fiction out there; the works of Octavia Butler have long been associated (albeit controversially) with the Afrofuturist movement, but many point to the Ralph Ellison novel Invisible Man, released in 1952, as being the earliest example of Afrofuturist fiction. Many works from W.E.B. Du Bois, Charles W. Chesnutt, and George S. Schuyler are often cited as works of Afrofuturism.
Perhaps the most famous example of it in writing, again, goes back to Black Panther in Marvel Comics, where the fictional nation of Wakanda (the home of the titular hero) was depicted as being the most technologically-advanced nation in the world thanks to the country lying on top of vast quantities of Vibranium (an incredibly valuable metal in the Marvel universe) thanks to a meteorite crashing into the area in the distant past.
Other comic books and characters of importance include Blade (whose style is now admittedly more influenced by Trad Goth culture) and Cyborg of The New Teen Titans.
== Media ==
=== Music ===
==== Artists ====
* Grace Jones
* Missy Elliot
* Busta Rhymes
* TLC
* Blaque
* Janelle Monáe
* SZA
* Flying Lotus
* Tierra Whack
* Travis Scott
* Lil Nas X
* Machinedrum
* Earth, Wind & Fire
* Parliament-Funkadelic
* Outkast
* Lee "Scratch" Perry
* Sun Ra
* Rauw Alejandro
* Ken Ishii
==== Playlists ====
The Sound of Afrofuturism by The Sounds of Spotify
=== Movies ===
* A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
* Black Panther (2018)
* See You Yesterday (2019)
* Black Is King (2020)
* Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
=== TV Shows ===
* Homeboys in Outer Space (1996-1997)
* Black Lightning (2018-2021)
* Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (2023-present)
* Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023-present)
* My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023-present)
* Supa Team 4 (2023-present)
* Iwájú (2024)
=== Games ===
* The Journey Down trilogy
== Resources ==
External links to help get a better understanding of this aesthetic.
=== Pinterest Boards ===
* Afrofuturism by Maggie.M 
== Gallery ==
Afrofuture.jpg
Index56.jpg|An example of Afrofuturist fashion
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Af1.PNG
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