Fall Quarter Out of The Box
Afrofuturism and Black Sci-Fi: Dream A World
OUR FUTURE - TRICK OR TREAT?
"Afrofuturism combines science fiction and fantasy to re-examine how the future is currently imagined and to envision alternative futures based on the Black diasporic experience and people of color (Wakanda Forever!). Afrofuturism seeks to reclaim and celebrate past and present African and Black Diaspora wisdom and progressive insights while augmenting how those insights“ can look and combine with technological and scientific innovation.”
- What are we hoping for? Are we clear?
- What exactly does a bright future look like for ourselves, our communities and/or our businesses?
- What does it feel like? Can you taste it or smell? Does it smell like jasmine or burning oil refineries?
- Who's in it? What are they experiencing or not experiencing?
In your Fall Get The Bag box and further down in this packing list you will find inspo and tools for helping you to rebuild your capacity for imagining and dreaming big. I had the opportunity in September to hear a keynote from Ruha Benjamin, abolitionist, afrofuturist and beekeeper who inspired the audience to challenge the process, question everything, dare to imagine the impossible and act local to be the change. Some of you received her latest book, "Imagination: A Manifesto", which provides examples of communities that are creating change together and an "imagination incubator" featuring tools and techniques for you to dream a new world. Some of you received Yatasha Womack's "The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture" - a primer on the history and future of afrofuturism. You will also find a micro-journal to carry with you at all times and instead of pulling out your phone to see what's up on social media, spend a minute or two jotting down hopes, desires, wildly outrageous wishes and ideas for yourself, your family, your community and your business.
Time spent doomscrolling on social media, binge watching on Netflix and/or just trying to meet the daily demands of womanhood and our careers, allows us little to no time to dream, reflect and imagine. If we are not investing time in thinking about what is needed/desired and how do we get there, we risk giving up our future to a very small percentage of the population that is largely disconnected from that of society at large and especially from Black people and women. What do corporations and tech bros who invest a significant amount of time and financial resources into actively imagining and building the future world, so we must also create space for big thinking, visioning and implementing.
Now go forth, put some Ghetto Gastro pastries in the toaster, grab your favorite beverage and dig into some of the resources provided below and make big things happen! We appreciate you and would love to hear your thoughts!
Gloria
Featured BOSS Brands
LEARN
- Book time here with Gloria to explore how you can get to the bag faster by growing your business, leveling up your career and/or leveraging technology to increase productivity.
- Virtual and live events this quarter will be focused on customer capital, marketing and funding. Checkout the recordings.
- Livestream - Insurance for Business Owners
- Livestream - Boost Your Salary Bag
- November 21- Speed Matchmaking for Marketing
- Follow us on social and the newsletter for upcoming events.
SELF CARE
- Pounded Yam Mini-Notebooks featuring afrocentric designs - to jot ideas, dreams and vision for your future self and your business.
"There have been many times in my life where I’ve had to pivot and I see each of those are new opportunities and chances to grow. I dance professionally for several years and this meant that I lived a very nomadic lifestyle. When I retired from the stage I had to find a new career and new footing for my life. I tried out different professional jobs that had me working in a office and ultimately decided that what I did had to be creative and I desperately wanted to work for myself. " - Enobong Tommelleo
Click on the arrow below to read more about Pounded Yam founder and creator, Enobong Tommelleo.
BONUS
Congrats to the winners for last quarters bonus of a $50 Caribshopper giftcard were Danielle Morris of DM Strategic Solutions and Crystalynn Shelton, CPA!
This quarter's bonus .....Bright Black Candle Company - Afrofuturism Candle. Originally commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art to celebrate two time Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter's exhibit with the same name, the AFROFUTURISM candle is a scent declaration of reimagined Black futures.
Afrofuturism, Black Sci-Fi and Horror
Exploration
DEEPER DIVE
- Ghetto Gastro's Jon Gray, food enthusiast, storyteller, and creative strategist. Jon is the co-founder and self-proclaimed dishwasher of Ghetto Gastro— a collective that uses food as a medium to ignite conversations about race, inequity, and inclusivity. Jon’s love affair with the Bronx, usage of mixed media, and desire to build new narratives that empower black and brown people, teaches us the importance of having pride in your roots and staying true to yourself. (Podcast interview)
- Parable of the Sower Graphic Novel
- Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements Walidah Imarisha and adrienne maree brown have brought 20 of them together in the first anthology of short stories to explore the connections between radical speculative fiction and movements for social change. These visionary tales span genressci-fi, fantasy, horror, magical realismbut all are united by an attempt to inject a healthy dose of imagination and innovation into our political practice and to try on new ways of understanding ourselves, the world around us, and all the selves and worlds that could be.
- Too Many Midnights, Krista Franklin
- The Black Radical Imagination: A Space of Hope and Possible Futures
- A Space for Imagining: Exploring the Impact and Influence of Afrofuturism
PLAYLISTS
Links
- Akim Dean
- Apple Music
- Janelle Monae “I thought science fiction was a great way of talking about the future,” Monáe said in 2013. “It doesn’t make people feel like you’re talking about things that are happening right now, so they don’t feel like you’re talking down to them. It gives the listener a different perspective.”
- Carnegie Hall Afrofuturism Festival
- Grammy Award Winner Marcus Strickland - “Most members of my demographic have no desire to travel back in time—the only desirable direction is forward to brighter days,” Strickland explains. “Countless Black musicians have always looked forward in time, and up to the heavenly bodies for inspiration in their music. From Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Sun Ra to Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, Afrofuturism has always been our way to creatively transcend our circumstances.”
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU IMAGINE A NEW WAY
ORGANIZATIONS
- Civic Commons
- Guild of Future Architects
- Environmental Changemakers
- Creative Mornings
- Blerds
- Sista Sci-Fi
GROW
- 10 Simple Activities to Boost Your Imagination
- How to Expand Your Imagination in 8 Days
- Using Your Imagination to Invent Your Future Self
- 5 Caribbean Entrepreneurs You Should Watch
INSPO
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