Black Imagination

Much of the work on view, and the wider Afrofuturist conversation, engages with the meanings and functions of technology. Collectively, these artists, writers, and designers operate with the understanding that “technology” does not solely reside in objects. The term also refers to systems, processes, planning methods, applied knowledge and any designed aspect of a culture that can be used by humankind for various tasks. Race, religion, literacy, and other cultural constructions can also be seen as technologies. Afrofuturists, whether or not it’s intentional, imagine their experiences through a pantechnological perspective. It is through this lens that they are able to metaphorically hack into various situations and overcome adversity by understanding that all problems are systemic in nature. These practices permeate all black cultural production, from music to visual art, and from literature to dance.