Modern Griots: It’s All About the Benjamins Baby

Banneker, that is. The areas of science, engineering, technology and mathematics have been colonized for the past few centuries. Media and other institutions often highlight white inventors, scientists, mathematicians and engineers, but neglect the people of color who have made significant contributions to these areas pre-, during and after slavery and colonialism. Although Benjamin Banneker […]

Art of This World

Here is a list of various futuristic artists: 1) Ibrahim Baaith is a Philadelphian model (Model City) and artist, who has featured his work in Brooklyn Art and Afropunk festivals. Baaith uses political themes in his artwork. “PrisonPlanet” 2) Adisa Abeba, who is also known as Olga Lolo, is a Russian visual artist and musician […]

Otherworldly Videos: Black Gold

Esperanza Spalding recently released “Black Gold” from her upcoming album Radio Music Society. In her explanation about the song, she said: “This song is singing to our African American heritage before slavery. Over the decades, so much of the strength in the African American community has seeded from resistance and endurance. I wanted to address […]

Moving on the Wires: Schomburg Digital Exhibitions

This is amazing and I recommend that you all visit these sites: schomburgcenter: On February 1, the Schomburg Center will join thousands of schools, libraries, and education institutions nationwide for Digital Learning Day—sponsored by the Alliance for Excellent Education—for a celebration of innovative teaching and learning using digital media and technology. Digital Schomburg offers you […]

Modern Griots: Afronaut Funk with Mike Wird

From 900lb Gorilla Cypher: “Hip-hop Renaissance man, the artist’s artist. Mike Wird is an educator, organizer, entrepreneur, B-boy, DJ, Emcee, Poet, producer, writer, musician, recording artist, natural holistic health advocate and sustainable living practitioner, an organic permaculture gardener, Hip-hop community cultural consultant and spokesperson and community liaison. He is originally from Denver, CO and now […]

Otherwordly Videos: The Art of the Dogon

The above BBC documentary, called Hidden Treasures: African Art, follows the impact of modern culture on the traditional religious Dogon art as well as the transformation of West African traditional art and modern influences in contemporary Malian and Ghanaian art. Watch the whole documentary; at the end you will see a some cool Ghanaian fantasy […]

The My-Stery: My Speculative Return Home…

For the first day of “Black History Month” (although Black history should be all day, everyday), I want to give a little background history of my return to speculative fiction. Looking back, I have always enjoyed speculative fiction, including science fiction, horror and fantasy. Growing up, I love fables, books and films about talking animals, […]

Otherworldly Videos: Soul Man

Guillaume Ivernel and Blacklight Movies are producing a film project called, Soul Man, which includes a sci-fi hero with an awesome afro. Shadow and Act did an article on the upcoming film, which the company plans to release in 2014.

I Could Dance, Dance, Dance All Night…

Pierre Bennu’s (Exit the Apple) “Sun Moon Child” video highlights the connections between various black dance styles throughout history. Soda Jerk created a video, Tap Hop, which compares jazz tap dance and hip-hop breakdance. African dance has been a major influence not only throughout the African Diapora, but also throughout popular culture in general. The […]

Originally posted on The AntiJemima Life:
If a video drops in a forest of things that seem to matter a lot–like fingers waving in presidential faces and self-deportation–does it make a sound? Nicki Minaj dropped “Stupid Hoe” last week. Maybe I’m too old to have my thumb on the relevant spaces in the interwebs, but it seems like the…