It used to be when you saw a movie about the future it was missing someone. Hollywood would often depict a future in a world devoid of Black people. Well, times are changing and Black creators have used their various art forms to create an image of a future that is more than diverse. This has become known as Afrofuturism. And actually the concept isn’t anything new, it’s been around for a few decades. But now it has become empowering for many Black creatives.

“Afrofuturism is the reimagining of a future filled with arts, science and technology seen through a Black lens. The term was conceived a quarter-century ago by white author Mark Dery in his essay “Black to the Future,” which looks at speculative fiction within the African diaspora. The essay rests on a series of interviews with black content creators,” the Huffington Post reported.

Listen to GHOGH with Jamarlin Martin | Episode 48: Diishan Imira
Part 2: Jamarlin continues his interview with Diishan Imira, founder of hair-care platform Mayvenn. They discuss how Diishan was mentored to think like a boss and “ask for the check,” and how much it meant to him to have investor Richelieu Dennis in his cap table. They also discuss New York progressives bangin’ back against Amazon and the growing negative sentiment against big tech.

There’s even a Wikipedia definition of the movement: “Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science, and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of African Diaspora culture with technology…Afrofuturism addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technoculture and science fiction, encompassing a range of media and artists with a shared interest in envisioning Black futures that stem from Afrodiasporic experiences”

The success of the film “Black Panther” has brought Afrofuturism to the forefront — and it’s catching on.

“Black women have been at the forefront of Afrofuturism. Their being in positions of power, publishers, convention chairs, etc. is not an anomaly but the standard. Diversity is more than lip service, it’s a way of life, which is -friendly all-ages event. Onyxcon is an excellent example of this. There are activities that pay homage to our elders as well as activities designed to entertain, educate, and empower the next generation of why Afrofuturism is ever evolving. There’s a strong emphasis for family Wakandans,” Black Girl Nerds reported.